Science Fact Finder | Food and Nutrition - How Are Truffles Found?

How are truffles found?

Truffles are fungi that grow underground near the roots of oak, elm, aspen, and willow trees. Specially trained dogs and pigs detect the scent of truffles and dig them up. Dogs are preferred for this activity because unwatched pigs tend to eat the truffles they find.

Prized by gourmet chefs for centuries, truffles are used to flavor cooked foods. The French black truffles (Perigord variety) and the Italian white truffles (Piedmont variety) are considered the finest. The English black truffles are also sought after.

Another variety of truffle is a whitish pear-shaped mushroom, called terfez or lion's truffle (also called desert, sand, or Arab truffle). The lion's truffle grows beneath the soil in North Africa and the Middle East.

Source: Simon, Andre L., and Robin Howe. Dictionary of Gastronomy, 2nd ed., unpaged alphabetical entry.

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