White truffle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White truffle |
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| White truffle washed and cut | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Tuber
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| Species: |
magnatum
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The white truffle (its scientific name is Tuber magnatum) is a very special type of truffle. It's known for its strong smell and amazing taste. People in Italy sometimes call it "Truffle of the White Madonna." You can find these valuable truffles growing naturally in parts of southern Europe.
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Where White Truffles Grow
White truffles are mostly found in the Piedmont region of northern Italy. The areas around the cities of Alba and Asti are especially famous for them. Another important place for white truffles in Italy is Acqualagna, where they even have a big yearly festival.
In recent years, people have also started looking for truffles in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They are found in mountains like Vlašić and Kozara. Farmers are even planning to grow them there because the climate is good for truffles.
You can also find white truffles in other parts of Italy, like Molise and Tuscany. They grow in Croatia on the Istria peninsula and in Slovenia along some rivers. Sometimes, they are even found in the Drôme area of France.
White Truffle Habitat
White truffles grow underground, usually near the roots of certain trees. They have a special relationship with trees like oak, hazel, poplar, and beech. This relationship helps both the truffle and the tree.
Truffles usually grow in the autumn. They can be quite small, but some have been found as big as 12 cm (5 in) across and weighing up to 500 grams (1 lb 2 oz). Inside, the truffle is usually a pale cream or brown color with white lines.
Why White Truffles Are So Valuable
Italian white truffles are considered very special and are some of the most expensive foods in the world. The busiest time for selling white truffles in Alba is in October and November. This is when the famous Truffle Fair takes place.
These truffles can sell for a lot of money. For example, in 2001, they cost between $2,200 and $4,800 per kilogram. By 2009, the price had gone up to over $14,000 per kilogram!
Record-Breaking Truffles
In November 1999, the biggest truffle ever found at that time was discovered in Croatia. It weighed 1.31 kilograms (2 lb 14 oz) and was even put into the Guinness World Records book.
The highest price ever paid for a single white truffle was in December 2007. A casino owner named Stanley Ho paid $330,000 for a truffle that weighed 1.5 kg (3 lb 5 oz). This huge truffle was found near Pisa, Italy. Stanley Ho bought another pair of large white truffles for the same price in 2010.
In 2014, an even bigger white truffle was found in Italy, weighing 1.89 kilograms (4 lb 2+1⁄2 oz). It was sold at an auction in New York for $61,000. More recently, in 2021, a large white truffle from Piedmont weighing 830 grams sold for €103,000 at an auction.
See also
- In Spanish: Trufa blanca para niños
