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| Frequently Asked Questions |
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- How do I store Truffles and how long do they last?
- What are all of these unfamiliar truffles?
- How are the truffles cultivated?
- How are the truffles hunted?
- Are truffles aphrodesiacs?
- How do I store Truffles and how long do they last?
When fresh truffles arrive from Europe here at the TRUFFLE MARKET they have been out of the ground for about two days. To slow their ripening we first wrap each truffle in a paper towel or cloth to absorb any moisture which would cause rot (this is why truffles should never be washed only brushed unless they will be used immediately). They are then buried in rice to further absorb moisture, and limit their exposure to oxygen. Then the Truffles are kept in a refrigerator at about 37°F. When customers receive the Truffles they should be placed in the refrigerator as soon as possible. We suggest enjoying the product within three days of delivery. Like fruits, Truffles will ripen and become increasingly flavorful and aromatic. You will want to use them as they peak but not when they become too mature or rotten.
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- What are all of these unfamiliar truffles?
Most people know that Truffles cost a fortune (although we try to make them as affordable as possible), and some may even know that they are found by female pigs in the forests of France and Italy. In fact, there are as many as fifty varieties of truffles that grow in almost every country. Most are flavorless but all are edible. Truffles belong to the ascomycetes fungal kingdom along with the Morel mushroom and many molds and yeasts. Surprisingly, the most widely collected Truffle is neither the French Perigord nor the Italian White Truffle, but the Mid-Eastern "Desert Truffle" or Terfez. These truffles are found in abundant supply from Morocco to Iraq, hidden just under the surface of the sand. A Desert Truffle will often weight about six to ten ounces and be served cubed like a potato rather than sliced like their pungent Italian and French cousins. Another species, (Tuber gibbosum) commonly known as the Oregon White Truffle, has been gaining popularity in the United States over the past few years. THE TRUFFLE MARKET has carried Oregon White truffles and found that alone they don't have enough flavor or aroma but they can be used combined with truffle oil or truffle butter to successfully enhance a dish for a fraction of the cost of Italian White Truffles. Oregon White Truffles are cultivated under Douglas fir and Pecan trees, but similar species may be found in your own yard (just remember never to eat wild mushrooms without consulting a specialist).
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- How are the truffles cultivated?
In recent years most of the legendary black Perigord Truffles harvested in France and some of the white Tube Magnatum Truffles harvested in Italy are not wild but cultivated under oak trees. Before running out to your yard and planting a truffle garden do realize this is in no way an easy or inexpensive process! The most common method of growing Truffles involves inoculating acorns or the roots of nut producing trees. First acorns are normally washed in a weak mixture of bleach and water to kill any competing fungi and bacteria. Next the acorns are sprouted in a greenhouse and kept for two years planted in a mixture of sterilized soil and minced fresh Truffles. After two years the trees can be planted outdoors and after another seven be checked for small truffles. Though the percentage of successful inoculations is small, if on the seventh year the farmer finds truffles under his trees he can expect to be well compensated for his patience. Truffles grow in proximity to trees whether in a forest or orchard. A symbiotic relationship forms between a truffle and its host tree called "mycorrhiza." In this relationship the Truffles colonize the root systems of trees and help them absorb nutrients from the ground. In return the truffles acquire nutrients made by the tree through photosynthesis. Like fruits, Truffles depend on animals to proliferate. Many small mammals attracted by their pungent aroma, eat them and spread the mycelium through their droppings.
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- How are the truffles hunted?
Although dogs are the most employed animal in European truffle hunting it comes much more naturally to pigs. Truffles emit an aroma similar to sexual hormones, to which female pigs or sows are attracted. Because of this inborn attraction, hunters can avoid the expensive and time-consuming task of training truffle dogs. A well-trained truffle dog may sell for as much as twenty thousand dollars. However, one drawback to the porcine is their limited mobility. Truffle hunting can require covering large areas of land therefore many hunters will carry their pig in a wheelbarrow or under their arm until alerted by a squeal. Besides their physical handicap, pigs, unlike dogs, can be very stubborn and temperamental. When the pig finds the truffle her instinct is to eat it, therefore the moments following discovery are a struggle between hunter and pig. The hunter usually wins but if the pig is not occasionally rewarded with a small portion of his treasure, it is common for the pig to stop obeying her master. In France most of the truffle hunting is done directly by the hunter without the aid of a dog or pig. Some hunters with well-trained noses can detect a Truffle hidden up to a foot under ground. If you aren't lucky enough to have a superhuman olfactory sense, there are three common ways to spot a Truffle; one is to watch for characteristic cracks in the soil or swarms of "Truffle Flies" hovering just over the ground. Another sign is a patch of dead foliage or a bare spot of ground, caused by a Truffle releasing a special herbicide that kills all foliage around its host.
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- Are truffles aphrodesiacs?
Truffles have been sought after for more than gustatory reasons. One myth dating back hundreds of years is that Truffles are an aphrodisiac. The only evidence that supports this speculation is that the odor of the truffle contains alpha-androstenol a chemical found on the breath of pigs. This chemical is suspected to be a pheromone, which attracts female pigs. Although this would explain sows natural talent for finding truffles, it is more likely attributed to another chemical also present in the fungus, dimethyl sulfide. Besides, Alpha-androstenol is also found in the underarm perspiration of men and in the urine of women. With that in mind maybe people will be more hesitant to believe the legend.
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