All About White Truffles

What exactly are white truffles?

White Truffles are the fruiting body of the Tuber Magnatum Pico fungi species. Truffles are generally considered to be subterranean, or underground, mushrooms and often share similar (albeit more pronounced) aromas to mushrooms. More specifically, truffles are ectomycorrhizal fungi, which means they live in a symbiotic relationship with trees, generally forming near their root systems, exchanging nutrients to aid in the growth of both the truffle and the tree.

Where do white truffles come from?

White Truffles are typically found in the forests of the Piedmont region in Italy, which has led to the variety also being called the Alba truffle, named for the city in Piedmont around which most of the white truffle harvest can be found each year.

While Piedmont typically produces the largest quantity of white truffles, other regions in Italy including Molise, Abruzzo, and Tuscany have been known to produce white truffles. Outside of Italy, white truffles have been found in Croatia, Slovenia, and France, although in considerably lesser quantities.

In all regions, white truffles grow sporadically throughout orchards, forests, and wooded areas and are harvested with the help of truffle hunting dogs.

What is the price range for white truffles?

Typically, white truffle prices are driven by supply and demand and will range from about $4,000 USD per pound to about $6,000 USD per pound. However, in recent years, due to increased demand, changing climatic conditions (including drought conditions throughout much of Italy), market prices for white truffles has climbed even higher, increasing up to as much as $8,000 USD per pound.

How to buy white truffles?

Given the high price of white truffles, it is best to purchase them from reputable suppliers, like Sabatino. We have been trusted by the world’s best chefs to consistently supply white truffles for their restaurants during white truffle season.

Our commitment to quality and service give you the assurance that you will be receiving the very same quality white truffles that today’s best chefs receive. We take great care to package and ship truffles overnight to get them to your door as quickly as possible for maximum freshness.

Are there any health benefits associated with eating white truffles?

Truffles have long been associated with a number of health and wellness benefits. Truffles have been considered an aphrodisiac, partly because their aromas are closely related to mating pheromones, and partly because of the allure and delicacy of dining on such a rarified ingredient. While these effects have been difficult to prove, it is clear that truffles are a good source of a number of vitamins and minerals including Vitamins A, B, C, D, K, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, and Phosphorus.

How should you store white truffles to keep them as fresh for as long as possible?

Upon receiving your white truffles from Sabatino you should unpack them as soon as possible, including removing them from their vacuum-sealed pouch. Examine your truffles, indulge in the aromas, then wrap them in fresh paper towels to absorb moisture and keep your truffles dry. Next, place them in a sealed container in your refrigerator until you are ready to use them. If you are not using the truffles within 24 hours, be sure to check your truffles daily and switch out the paper towels with fresh ones daily to avoid any excess moisture issues. (If the paper towels are not switched at least every 24 to 36 hours, the truffles can potentially get moldy.)

Keep in mind that truffles can lose up to 10% of their weight each day, so be sure to enjoy your truffles as soon as possible upon receiving them. This will ensure that you will be able to enjoy them at their best when their flavors and aromas are at their peak.

Any tips or tricks for using white truffles in your cooking?

White Truffles have a very deep, intense aroma with these aromas helping to perfume dishes intensely. Because of this intensity, it does not take much to smell and taste white truffles in a dish. While slicing truffles is one of the most traditional ways of serving white truffles, grating can spread the flavor a little farther across a dish allowing more of the dish to be flavored by the truffle.

Because the flavor compounds and molecules in white truffles are so volatile, it is best not to cook them over intense heat. Slicing or grating white truffles over a piping hot or warm dish of pasta, risotto, or eggs helps to gently warm the white truffle and subtly release its aromas and flavors throughout the dish. The flavor compounds and aromas are also very fat soluble, so mixing the white truffle into oil, cream, or butter sauces helps to extract the flavors and aromas into the sauce.

How to best enjoy White Truffles