Black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) photo and description

Black truffle (Tuber melanosporum)

• Black French truffle
• Perigord truffle (comes from the historical region of Perigord in France)
• Real black french truffle

Truffle black, (lat. tuber melanosporum or tuber nigrum) is a mushroom of the genus Truffle (lat. Tuber) of the Truffle family (lat. Tuberaceae).

There are about thirty varieties of truffles, only eight of which are interesting from a culinary point of view. The most exquisite is Perigord black truffle Tuber melanosporum. Despite the direct indication of the place of residence in the name, this species is distributed not only in Perigord, but also in the southeastern part of France, as well as Italy and Spain. For a long time it was believed that truffles are nothing more than growths on the roots of trees, but in fact they are marsupial mushrooms that have two characteristic features. Firstly, the truffle grows underground at a depth of 5-30 centimeters, which makes it quite difficult to find. And secondly, this fungus can only live in poor calcareous soil and exclusively in alliance with trees, and in choosing a “life partner” the truffle is extremely picky and prefers to cooperate mainly with oak and hazel. The plant provides the fungus with the necessary nutrients, and the mycelium literally envelops the roots of the tree and thereby improves their ability to absorb mineral salts and water, and also protects against various diseases. At the same time, all other vegetation around the tree dies, the so-called “witch’s circle” is formed, which indicates that the territory belongs to mushrooms.

No one has seen how they grow. Even those who collect them from generation to generation. Because the whole life of a truffle takes place underground and is completely dependent on trees or shrubs, the roots of which become the real breadwinners of these mushrooms, sharing carbohydrate reserves with them. True, to call truffles freeloaders would be unfair. The web of filaments of the mycelium of the fungus, enveloping the roots of the host plant, helps it to extract additional moisture and, in addition, protects against all kinds of microbial diseases, such as phytophthora.

The black truffle is a dark, almost black tuber; its meat is light at first, then darkens (to a purple-black color with white streaks).

The fruit body is underground, tuberous, round or irregular in shape, 3-9 cm in diameter. The surface is reddish-brown, later to coal-black, turning rusty when pressed. Covered with numerous small irregularities with 4-6 facets.

The flesh is hard, initially light, gray or pinkish-brown with a white or reddish marble pattern on the cut, darkens with spores and becomes dark brown to black-violet with age, the veins in it remain. It has a very strong characteristic aroma and a pleasant taste with a bitter tint.

Spore powder is dark brown, spores 35×25 µm, fusiform or oval, curved.

Mycorrhiza forming with oak, less often with other deciduous trees. It grows in deciduous forests with calcareous soil at a depth of several centimeters to half a meter. It is most common in France, central Italy and Spain. In France, the finds of black truffles are known in all regions, but the main places of growth are in the southwest of the country (the departments of Dordogne, Lot, Gironde), another place of growth is in the southeastern department of Vaucluse.

Cultivated in China.

The strong smell of black truffle attracts feral pigs, which dig up fruiting bodies and promote the spread of spores. In truffles, red fly larvae develop, adult insects often swarm above the ground, this can be used to search for fruiting bodies.

Season: from the beginning of December to March 15, the collection is usually made in the first months of the year.

Black truffles are traditionally harvested with the help of trained pigs, but since these animals destroy forest soil, dogs have also been trained for this purpose.

For gourmets, the strong aroma of these mushrooms is of primary value. Some note forest dampness and a slight trace of alcohol in the smell of black truffles, others – a shade of chocolate.

Black truffles are easier to find – their “mycelium” destroys most of the vegetation around. Therefore, the place of growth of black truffles is easier to detect by the totality of signs.