Interesting facts

People have always been afraid of the unknown and different, so it’s no wonder that truffles have always been surrounded by all kinds of stories… but it’s time to put things in their rightful place.

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The truth about truffles

The protagonist of many stories

  • Truffles are neither a magic food nor an animal species nor a mineral, as was thought in the past.
  • Truffles are not formed when lightning strikes moist soil, as the ancient Greeks believed.
  • White truffles do not grow in symbiosis with just any plant, only a few have this privilege.
  • The white truffle is a spontaneous plant: there are no cultivation facilities for it and it cannot grow in just any soil.
  • Truffles can be smelled by pigs, dogs and goats, but today only trained dogs are mostly used in hunting.
  • Istrian white truffles are found only from September to January.
  • Truffles can be found during the day, not exclusively at night.
  • The ancient Greeks and Romans used truffles as a delicacy, aphrodisiac and medicine.
  • White truffles are best eaten immediately, but no later than within ten days.
  • White truffles lose all their properties when frozen, they ferment in oil and lose their flavour and smell in brine.
  • We do not peel fresh truffles or eat them whole, it is best to grate them into thin slices.
  • The truffle also has many nicknames, such as culinary diamond, fairy apple, black queen, jewel of poor countries, fragrant lump and black pearl.
  • In the Middle Ages, monks were forbidden to eat truffles for fear of forgetting their calling and mission.