If we had to choose off the top of our heads, the top three foods most associated with luxury and elegance would be caviar, lobster, and truffles. But if you're one of the plebs and have very little knowledge about foods other than the lineup of burgers at McDonald's, then you'd think truffles are a confectionery. Well, they're not.
Truffles are fungi, or mushrooms, or both
Hold off on the confusion; here's the gist. Truffles are a type of fungi, like mushrooms, that grows entirely underground. But what makes them so unique is that they choose to grow beneath trees, mainly in Europe, and are virtually impossible to cultivate.
What Are Truffles, Really? Unsplash/Amirali Mirhashemian
Despite its rarity, there's also some variety to this unique food
Black truffles are a staple of France and have a less musky aroma. However, white truffles are grown in Italy and have an almost dizzying fragrance. As you'd probably guessed, they are the most expensive of all truffles.
Now, for truffles, foragers have to hunt in the wild with the help of specially trained dogs or hogs. Hogs are used even less because they tend just to eat up their finds. But, of course, this can only be done in season.
By now, you should be starting to get it. The selective growth of truffles combined with their resistance to cultivation helps to increase its scarcity. And like most rarities, it is well sought after. Little wonder it became associated with luxury over the years in Europe. Now, everyone wants a taste of this special delicacy.
What Do They Taste Like? Chocolate? Pexels/Владимир Гладков
But can you actually taste it?
Felicia Lalomia, a columnist at "Delish," had the privilege to taste a truffle sometime in 2021. She described how beautiful the truffles looked and how the inside had a speckled-marble-like appearance. And though the slice melted in her mouth, she could detect no flavor or texture to prove that she had just eaten something. Truffles must be blended with fat to achieve a rich taste.
But if you think that's a one in a million scenario, let's hear from the semifinalists of the 2015 Eater, Young Gun. Jamie Tao, a sous chef from New York, didn't hesitate to cite black truffle as one of the most overrated ingredients in the food industry. Why? Because it tastes like “cardboard.” Bobby Pradachitch of Washington DC and Fred Noinaj of Chicago also said as much. And other chefs, too, were quick to mention truffle oil, but that's a more complicated conversation for another day.
Why Bother? Pexels/Polina Zimmerman
So if actual truffles are clearly tasteless, why are truffles still so popular? The answer is more complex than you might think, but let’s dig into that another time.
