What Are Truffle Mushrooms? Why Are They Expensive?

TheIndonesia.id - Truffle (Tuber Magnatum) is a rare mushroom that is hard to find. Truffles are categorized as the most expensive mushrooms in the world.
In many countries, truffles are cultivated to serve as a food menu. 

Truffles usually grow on the roots of oak and hazel trees with a soil depth of 5-40 cm. In Perugia, truffles can grow in the cold hills. Because of their expensiveness, truffles are categorized as luxury food. Then, what is the reason for expensive truffles? Check out the following article to find out the answer.

Reasons Truffle Are Expensive

The reason truffles are expensive is that they are hard to find. To look for truffles, people usually use the help of pigs or dogs that have a sharp sense of smell.

The mushroom has a number of benefits. Truffle distilled water is usually used as eye medication. While the mushrooms are usually processed into food ingredients.

As mentioned in Sri Winarsih's Encyclopedia of Fungi (2008), truffles are also widely used as a flavoring for French dishes such as Foie Gras. In addition, truffles also contain high nutrition.

There are many types of truffle mushrooms that can be consumed. Each has a different taste and selling price. Here's a list that you can refer to.

• White truffle: This mushroom originates from Piedmont, Northern Italy. White truffles are usually harvested between October and November. The most expensive price is around IDR 60 million per kilogram. This mushroom is nicknamed the “Prima Donna of the kitchen” or “Diamond from the kitchen”.
• Black truffle: This mushroom is found in many parts of France and is nicknamed the "black diamond". Far below the white truffle, one kilogram of black truffle is priced at IDR 6 million.
• Chinese truffle: This mushroom is still in the same family as the black truffle, but grows a lot in China or China. Chinese truffles are usually harvested in winter.
• Burgundy truffle: This mushroom is usually harvested in winter in European regions.
  Summer truffle: This mushroom is usually harvested in summer in Europe. According to records, the summer truffle is still classified as a relative to the Burgundy truffle.

It can be concluded, the most expensive type of truffle mushroom is the White truffle. This mushroom is usually served as a flavor enhancer in various western dishes such as pasta, pizza, and risotto.

Compared to other types, white truffles are also much more difficult to find. This type of mushroom only grows in the Piemonte area, northwestern Italy, in the period from September to December only.