Summer truffle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Summer truffle /Burgundy truffle |
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| Summer truffle, cut open | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Tuber
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| Species: |
aestivum
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| Synonyms | |
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| Tuber aestivum | |
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glebal hymenium |
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hymenium attachment is not applicable |
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lacks a stipe |
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spore print is blackish-brown to brown |
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ecology is mycorrhizal |
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edibility: choice |
The summer truffle (Tuber aestivum) and burgundy truffle (Tuber uncinatum) are types of truffles. You can find them in many countries across Europe. People really like them for their unique taste and smell!
Contents
Are They Different Truffles?
For a long time, people thought the summer truffle and the burgundy truffle were different. They even had different names in cooking and trade, especially in France and Italy. But in 2004, scientists used special tests (molecular analysis) and found out something cool! They discovered that these two truffles are actually the same species. The small differences you might see are probably just because they grow in different places or conditions.
This article will use the older name, T. aestivum, for the whole species. But we will still talk about the special things that make the "summer" and "burgundy" types a bit different.
Burgundy Truffles
What Are Burgundy Truffles Like?
Burgundy truffles are also called truffe de Bourgogne in French. They have a smell like hazelnuts. People love to use them in fancy cooking in France and Italy. Sometimes, they are used instead of the more expensive Périgord black truffle (T. melanosporum). Like other truffles, they are also packed up and sent to other countries.
Size and Appearance
Burgundy truffles are fairly big. Their bodies, called ascocarps, can be from 2 to 10 centimeters (about 1 to 4 inches) wide. Their outer skin, called the peridium, is brown or black. It has bumpy, pyramid-shaped warts. These warts are about 3 to 9 millimeters (about 1/8 to 3/8 inches) wide. They make the truffle look like it has rough bark.
Where and When to Find Them
You can find burgundy truffles from September to late December. Sometimes, they are even found until late January. These truffles grow in more places than any other truffle species. They are found all over Europe. This includes places from Spain to eastern Europe. They also grow from Sweden down to North Africa. In France, you can find them mostly in the northeast. In Italy, they are common in the north. They used to be very common in the United Kingdom. Now, they are quite rare there.
Summer Truffles
What Are Summer Truffles Like?
Summer truffles are also called tartufo estivo in Italian. Their taste, size, and color are much like burgundy truffles. However, their smell is not as strong. Also, the inside part, called the gleba or flesh, is a lighter hazel color.
When and Where to Find Them
As their name suggests, summer truffles are found earlier. You can harvest them from May to August. They usually grow in the warmer, southern parts of the species' range. This includes places with a Mediterranean climate. You can find them especially in France, Italy, and Spain.
See also
In Spanish: Trufa de verano para niños
