The truffle in Piedmont

The Truffle in Piedmont

The truffle grows spontaneously in all Italian regions and is celebrated in several gastronomic traditions, but only some regions have developed a system of fairs and festivals to celebrate it.

Piedmont and Umbria are the Italian regions where the truffles culture is traditionally more developed.
Piedmont is the only region where truffles hunting at night is allowed, because the dog is less disturbed and, by ancient tradition, because the darkness protects the “trifolau” from curious eyes.

Among the 9 truffle species (*) considered more interesting as food, the white one (Tuber Magnatum Pico) is the most refined and is regarded as the king of the table. In Piedmont, all the other 8 species are also diffused.

If anyone wants to experience the wild truffle hunt, here is a short description of the areas where they grow. Good luck!

The white truffle is found mostly in the valley floor woods, in the woods along the waterways, in symbiosis with poplars, willows, hazelnuts, or oaks near crops or on the edge of pastures.

The harvesting time for the white truffles is Autumn, starting from October when it reaches full ripeness.

From October to December, Alba (in the province of Cuneo) hosts the oldest and most important truffle fair in Italy: the International Alba White Truffle Fair.

During all the fair weekends the program also offers high-level food and wine, cultural and musical events, recipe presentations, and cooking shows by national, international, and local chefs.
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(*) The 9 varieties of truffle:
– Bianco pregiato – Tuber Magnatum Pico socalled also Tartufo d’Alba
– Bianchetto o Marzuolo – Tuber Borchii Vittadini
– Nero Pregiato –Tuber Melanosporum Vittadini detto anche Tartufo di Norcia
– Nero Estivo o Scorzone –Tuber Aestivum Vittadini
– Nero Invernale – Tuber Brumale Vittadini
– Nero Liscio – Tuber Macrosporum Vittadini
– Nero Uncinato – Tuber Aestivum var. Uncinatum
– Nero Moscato – Tuber Brumale var. Moschatum
– Nero Ordinario – Tuber Mesentericum