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Native of France and Italy, Truffles are highly prized gems that require hand picking. Hunters take specially trained pigs to sniff out the distinctive aroma of the mature truffle. The hunter then gently digs to reveal the truffle. If it is not mature enough, then it is covered again and left to mature further. The price of the truffles reflect this labour intensive process. |
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| Love truffles but never
have a pig handy to snuffle them out? Now thanks to New Zealand scientists, who have found a way to infect trees with the spores of the truffle fungus, you can have them growing in your own garden. The fungus has a symbiotic relationship on the roots of trees, such as oaks so once the tree is planted you could only have to wait a few years before you can dig up those highly-prized underground fungi. The Perigord black truffle is a winter delicacy that is used widely in gourmet cooking where it imparts a flavour of its own to the dish or enhances the food it is cooked with. Classic dishes that use this truffle include pate de foie gras, tornedos Rossini and truffle omelette. |
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Fantastic Fungi: This interesting plant life has a 'body'
of tiny branching threads that absorb food from living or dead plants
or animals. In some cases the threads collectively merge to form
'fruiting bodies' which often resemble mushrooms but some can have
unusual shapes. Fruiting bodies produce the spores of the fungus
and these are the 'seeds' that grow into new plants. |
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| Truffles are fruiting bodies that have a strange partnership with the roots of trees, especially oaks but sometimes hazelnut, chestnut and beech. Truffles take their food from the tree and in turn makes nutrients for its host in the soil around the base of the tree. They are usually only 4 to 5 feet from the base of the tree in a circular formation and from 2 to 15 inches deep below the ground. | |||
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Although truffles are ugly and have an irregular shape,
the Egyptians used to wrap these delectable jewels in parchment,
and the Greeks and Romans believed them to be aphrodisiacs and have
medicinal properties. These rare delicacies, with their delicious
taste and distinctive aroma, have been popular for centuries. White truffles are found only in Italy. They have smooth
white/fawn coloured flesh. It is said to be superior than the black
truffle and the flavour is exquisite served with macaroni or risotto.
They can be eaten raw, sliced thinly on top of a dish. The white
truffle is less durable than the black truffle. |
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Oak
trees can tolerate most soils, except shallow soils and do need
plenty of space to grow as they are large, but slow-growing trees.
Plant them in full sun or partially shaded spot. Incorporate plenty
of well-rotted garden compost when planting. The Oak seedlings are
dispatched when they are 30-45cm tall in an 8cm pot ready for immediate
planting. |
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