Black truffle mushroom: how to use, where to look and whether it can be grown

Black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) is a mushroom of the Truffle family. It has a unique aroma and nutty taste. This is a delicacy type of mushroom, one of the most expensive. It grows not only in the wild, valuable specimens are grown at home. This business requires a lot of investment, but over time brings a good income.

What is black truffle

Perigordsky, black, French truffle – an underground representative of a species of round or irregular shape, reaching 9 cm in diameter. It occurs in black, brown, reddish, coal shades.

Classification:

• kingdom – mushrooms;
• family – Truffle;
• department – marsupials;
• class – Pezizomycetes;
• genus – Truffle;
• view – black truffle;
• the Latin name is Tuber melanosporum.

What does black truffle look like?

The fruiting body of this species is under a layer of earth. The mushroom is covered with irregularities with several faces. Its surface shimmers with various shades: from burgundy to black. When pressed, it turns rusty. The mushroom has a rounded or irregular shape, the dimensions are 3-9 cm.

The flesh of the black truffle (pictured) is firm, has a light, then gray or brown hue with a marble pattern on the cut. Gradually it darkens and reaches black-violet. The spores of the fungus are curved, oval or fusiform, 35×25 microns in size, dark brown.

Black truffle cut

How black truffle grows

The growth of the mushroom body occurs underground at a depth of 10-50 cm. Mushrooms interact with deciduous trees.

Where does the black truffle grow?

The black truffle is mycorrhizal with oak and some other higher plants. You can find it in deciduous forests. Growth depth – up to half a meter, more often – several centimeters. This species is most common in France, Spain, Italy.

In the Moscow region, black truffle can be found, but not so often. The mushroom grows from November to March, it is collected mainly in the first months of the year.

Black truffle grows in Our Country. It can be found in the Orel, Moscow, Tula, Vladimir, Smolensk regions.

Can you eat black truffle

Black truffle dishes are considered a delicacy. This is a very tasty mushroom, which stands out for its specific aroma. In Italy, they are seasoned with pasta and risotto. It goes well with eggs, is used to make cream. They also make blanks, canned black truffle retains its properties and aroma. This mushroom is good for the body. Many admire its taste, but there are those who did not like it. The rarity and high cost lead to the fact that not everyone can enjoy the delicacy.

The most common recipe is black truffle pasta. To prepare it, you will need the following ingredients:

• dry pasta – 350 g;
• black truffle – 1 piece;
• cream – 250 ml;
• butter – 30 g;
• sea ​​salt – to taste;
• grated parmesan – 100 g.

The truffle is cleaned and finely chopped. At this time, prepare the pasta. It is cooked al dente, that is, it is periodically tasted. Finished pasta does not stick to the teeth, and also has a uniform color on the cut. Put butter and sauce into the pasta. To prepare the latter, you need to take the shavings of the mushroom, previously salted, put in the cream, which is poured into the pan. Then Parmesan is added. The sauce is cooked until it has a thick consistency. Add pasta to the pan. It turns out a fragrant and satisfying dish.

Black truffle pasta

What does black truffle taste like?

Truffles have a mushroom flavor with hints of roasted seeds or nuts. It has a bright rich aroma. If it is slightly supported in water, the taste of soy sauce appears.

How to eat black truffle

There are many recipes for cooking dishes with the addition of this delicious mushroom. It is usually finely rubbed or cut into thin strips. Additionally, you can use truffle sauce to enhance the flavor of the dish.

How to serve and eat black truffle:

• since the mushroom itself is very expensive, it is rarely eaten in its pure form, more often added to various sauces, to which it gives a special taste;
• expensive dishes, for example, black caviar, are usually sprinkled with no less noble truffle shavings;
• this representative of the mushroom kingdom is combined with both different types of meat and sweet fruits;
• the mushroom can be eaten raw, baked, steamed, stewed;
• truffle in champagne – a favorite dish of many gourmets in different countries, this is the most sophisticated version of its use;
• to give the dish a specific flavor, it is not necessary to add the mushroom itself; it is often used to soak the ingredients in a truffle.

In popular restaurants in Moscow, you can see unusual dishes with the addition of this mushroom. Creative chefs prepare truffle burgers, french fries, hot dogs with its addition. In Peruvian cuisine, you can find sushi with truffles, and in Georgian – khachapuri. This mushroom goes well with a variety of flavors and foods.

The benefits of black truffle

The benefits of this mushroom for the human body are as follows:

• the presence of pheromones in the composition improves the emotional state;
• B vitamins help maintain the health of the nervous system;
• mushroom juice is useful for people with eye diseases;
• contains many antioxidants, therefore, prevents the development of diseases;
• Helps to relieve pain during exacerbation of symptoms of gout.

Previously, it was considered one of the strongest aphrodisiacs, until today it is used to enhance love experiences in men. Its benefits are universal.

Due to the content of vitamins and minerals, the fungus has a positive effect on the child’s body during increased growth. Since the composition contains a large amount of antioxidants, it is considered as a product that slows down aging. Some cosmetologists use it as an ingredient in anti-wrinkle masks.

There is harm from the product when there is an individual intolerance to the fungus, which is extremely rare. It is not recommended to use a mushroom dish if there are problems with digestion.

False doubles

Doubles include false and deer truffles, as well as inedible tombolans. Their use poses a health risk. False truffle can lead to severe intoxication with a fatal outcome, deer truffle – to indigestion, inedible tombolan – to poisoning and disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.

false truffle

Olen’s truffles

Inedible raffle

How to grow black truffle at home

It is necessary to prepare a place for growing, considering the following:

• the optimal level of soil pH is 7,9, but not less than 7,5;
• comfortable temperature – 16-22 ° C;
• the soil should be saturated with humus, calcium. It is desirable that there are no stones on the site;
• the top layer of soil is collected from a deciduous forest;
• nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers are used for nutrition;
• before planting, it is necessary to carry out mechanical tillage.

These mushrooms form mycorrhiza with oaks, so they are planted with a sprout of a tree inoculated with mycelium. Do this before frost.

Mycelium can infect not only oak, but also hazel. After that, the seedlings should be stored for several weeks under sterile conditions. Next, the seedlings are ready for planting in a prepared nursery.

Successful engraftment does not guarantee a good harvest. There are pests that pose a danger to truffles. If cultivation takes place in a fenced area, the risk is reduced. Rabbits, pigs and hares are very fond of this mushroom. The only way to escape from them is to fence the territory well.

Even more problems are caused by weevils and black cockroaches, which are no longer so easy to get rid of. To protect against these pests, boric acid is used, which is sprayed throughout the territory. Acid must be mixed with an egg, put the balls on paper, changing the mixture every day. You can buy ready-made preparations for pest control.

Stages of growing black truffle at home:

1. Soil preparation: saturating it with oxygen, cleaning it from stones and third-party objects.
2. Check soil acidity before planting.
3. Preparation of oak sawdust, where the mycelium will be located.
4. Mixing mycelium with soil soaked in fertilizers.
5. Spreading the prepared mixture on oak sawdust.

The first harvest will not happen very soon. Landing costs will pay off no earlier than in a few years. But if you approach this correctly, you can collect several tens of kilograms in one season.

The appearance of fungi can be observed on elevations above the soil. They will be located approximately at a depth of 20 centimeters. It is not so easy to notice them, because in color they merge with the soil.

In order not to damage, you need to get the truffle with a small spatula.

To facilitate the collection process in France, the practice of training pigs and dogs has long been established. A truffle-scented stick is thrown to the animals for them to find and bring back. Puppies are given milk with the addition of mushroom broth. This allows pets to learn the aroma and freely find fruiting bodies in the thickness of the earth.

Useful tips for proper cultivation:

• the soil should not have cracks, and when they appear, they must be covered with sand;
• it is contraindicated to grow trees such as poplars, willows, chestnuts on the territory, because they have a detrimental effect on the growth and condition of mushrooms;
• at the time of harvest, each truffle should be wrapped separately in paper and stored in rice. In order for the fruiting bodies to retain moisture, it is best to keep them in the refrigerator.

Conclusion

Black truffle has been used in cooking since the 15th century. It all started in Italy, but then they began to grow it in the Moscow province. This is a delicacy worth trying. It does not cause any harm to the body and can be prepared even for children. And its cultivation, with proper preparation, can be a profitable business.