FAQs
A truffle is a kind of fungus related to a mushroom, that grows underground, nurtured by the soil, water and tree roots. They are hard to the touch and look a bit like a small, knobbly potato with differing colours and texture according to the variety. They’re a bit strange and a little mysterious really; they have no roots themselves, aren’t actually attached to the trees and can appear fully formed overnight. Some ancient cultures thought they were actually a type of animal.
There are different types of truffles, mainly divided into black and white varieties. Edible varieties each have distinctive, strong aromas and pungency with flavour notes that run from hazelnuts, mushroom, very savoury umami and chocolate with black truffles and from garlic, porcini, white pepper and parmesan with white truffles.
Different varieties have different flavours that can be resumed as follow:
Black Pregiato: a very strong earthy deep and nutty flavour, a little bit smoky
Black Uncinato: hints of vanilla, chocolate and strong flavour of hazelnut
Black Moscato: the only spicy truffle due to strong hints of nutmeg and wild herbs
Black Scorzone: similar to the Uncinato but with with more delicate and subtle flavours
White Alba: strong hints of garlic and cheese (especially parmesan)
White Bianchetto: Strong hints of garlic and Porcini mushroom
For more details, please read the description that you can find in every dedicated truffle page available in the "Fresh Truffles" section of this website.
It depends how much you purchase. We sell our truffles by weight. Please call or contact to order yours direct and we will find them then send to you packed to keep fresh from Italy via air mail to reach you between 48 and 72 hours. If we have smaller amounts fresh in stock they will be dispatched immediately to reach you the following day. All fresh truffle orders are inspected to meet the highest standard but if you are in anyway dissatisfied please let us know on immediate receipt of goods and we will do replace them.
Truffles grow naturally in different sizes but we won’t spoil a truffle by cutting it to better fit the order weight. Instead, if needs be, we will round it up so you get a little extra.
- 15g for 2 people
- 25g for 3 people
- 50g for 4 people
- 75g for 6 people
Every variety of fresh black truffles will keep in the fridge for up to 10 days, ideally wrapped in a Ziploc bag and surrounded in kitchen roll The more delicate white truffle and bianchetto will keep up to 7 days. Truffles will naturally lose moisture (and thus weight) the longer they are kept. In order to keep them dry, please change the kitchen paper everyday to absorb what they shed. Although they will keep for a week, they are at their absolute best the day, or day after you receive them. They can be frozen but will lose some flavour and texture. Please watch this short, instructional video to know more: