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The Magic Mushroom |
19/01/2005 |
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In ancient times it is believed tartufi appeared where lightning had struck tree roots. In actual fact tartufi grow spontaneously in certain conditions mainly beneath oaks, willows, linden, poplars and cherry trees. They require ideal conditions of acidity and humidity so it's almost impossible to cultivate them.
It also means it's hard to find them. This forms part of their mystery and why Tuscan men even into their twilight years still spend their winter mornings in search of an allusive find.
There are three kinds of tartufi found in Tuscany - the white (bianco), black (nero) and marzuolo. The white tartufi is the most prized and can sell for Euro 800-3000/kg. These are found mainly in September and October so today we will only find the marzuolo, still reasonably priced at Euro 150-500/kg.
Truffles actually grow underground and the only way to get them to the surface is by using a truffle dog. These dogs have a highly developed sense of smell and are trained from an early age to recognise the aroma of tartufi. They are also very expensive to buy, as much as Euro 7-10,000 for a good dog.
Truffle dog owners must be attentive to both stop the dogs from kicking out and losing the tartufi with the soil in their haste or before they eat it. Expertly trained truffle dogs will find the tartufi for their masters, but most will simply eat them. |
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