Andiamo! | Citalia Magazine Autumn 2021

Where can you find Italian truffles?
Notoriously hard to find, you’ll find truffles growing exclusively
underground close to the roots of trees, particularly oak, willow, hazelnut,
poplar and linden trees.
Truffles can grow between five and 30 centimetres underground, and
they love humid, cold climates.
Wild truffles are found within quite a limited area of Italy - you’ll need
to head to the forests of northern Piedmont, central Tuscany, Umbria
(in Orvieto, Perugia and Norcia), and Le Marche (within Acqualagna
and Pergola).
The area where truffles are grown are known as tartufaia, and these are
a closely-guarded secret, known only to the local people and established
trifalau (truffle hunters).
How are truffles harvested?
Italian truffles are harvested using a wonderful traditional method.
Unlike in France, who use pigs for their truffle hunting, the Italian trifalau
use a team of dogs to help them to sniff out their distinctive smell.
Truffles are almost impossible to find otherwise!
It’s not just any old dog that’s used. A particular dog breed, Lagotto
Romagnolo, are trained to point at the truffle, so that they can be carefully
extracted without any damage to this precious ingredient or the habitats
they grow in.
Truffles are at their best when they are at their freshest, so it’s best to
consume them immediately after being removed from the earth. White
truffles only tend to last three days, whereas some black truffles can keep
for up to two weeks if stored carefully.
Summer/Autumn 2021
Andiamo!