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Truffles are rare in the Moscow region, and the search for these mushrooms is complicated by the fact that they grow underground. That is why in the old days they were often searched for with the help of dogs trained for the smell of truffles. Although even now some mushroom pickers use animals to search.
In addition to the Moscow region, various types of truffles grow in Our Country in the Caucasus, in the Crimea and on the Black Sea coast.
Are there truffles in the suburbs
There are truffles in the Moscow region, but it is very rare to find them. There are many species of this mushroom, however, only three grow in the Moscow region: summer (also black ), white and Duron.
Black truffle (lat. Tuber aestivum) or scorzone is an irregularly shaped mushroom with a rough, warty surface. Its dimensions vary from 3 to 9 cm in diameter. The pulp of young specimens is quite dense, yellowish-white, but in adult mushrooms it becomes loose and brown with many whitish veins.
White truffle (lat. Choiromyces meandriformis) or Trinity truffle is the most common variety in Our Country. However, it has no special value, unlike real truffles. In the old days, this mushroom was also called Polish.
The fruit body of this species is white, mealy. The surface of mature mushrooms gradually acquires a marble-like appearance with pronounced dark veins. The color of ripened fruiting bodies is yellowish-brown.
This is a fairly large species, it can reach 6-8 cm in diameter, and the mushroom weighs about 350-400 g. Its shape is tuberous, slightly flattened. The pulp is elastic, light, somewhat reminiscent of a potato. It tastes like walnuts or deep-fried seeds.
Another species that can be found in the Moscow region is the white Duron (lat. Tuber excavatum). It is found throughout the European part of Our Country. The size of the mushroom does not exceed 4 cm, it weighs approximately 65-80 g. The aroma of this variety is very pleasant, sweetish-sharp. Pulp of medium density. The surface of the fruiting body is painted in an ocher-flesh color.
A photo of a white Duron truffle found in the Moscow region is presented below.
When does the truffle season start in Moscow
The beginning of the collection may differ for each species. On average, the peak of the truffle season falls on September, sometimes it can shift to a later date. There are also almost empty seasons when there are almost no mushrooms.
The specific collection dates in the Moscow region look something like this:
- black summer truffle bears fruit from mid-June to late September;
- Trinity truffle in the Moscow region is harvested from August to November;
- white Duron truffle actively bears fruit in September-November.
Where do truffles grow in the Moscow region
On the map of mushroom places in the Moscow region, truffles are not marked, since they are extremely rare. In the old days, truffle fishing was carried out in the north and south of the Moscow region.
White truffle is the most unpretentious subspecies. It can grow on sandy and clay soils in both deciduous and coniferous forests. This variety forms mycorrhiza with oaks, aspens, birch, linden and mountain ash, and groups of fungi are found under hawthorn and hazel.
Black truffles are found in deciduous and mixed forests. In the Moscow region, it grows under oaks and beeches; it can also be found next to hazel. The preferred soil type is calcareous.
Duron white truffle is able to enter into an alliance with many conifers and deciduous trees. Most often these are oaks, pines, larches and birches.
How to find a truffle in the suburbs
Finding a truffle near Moscow is very difficult, not only because of its low prevalence. The fact is that it grows underground, and only sometimes the top of the mushroom looks out from under it. Therefore, people are guided by additional signs of mushroom places. For example, midges often hover over the truffle point. In particular, the smell of the mushroom attracts red flies.
In addition, places where truffles accumulate sometimes give out small bumps on the soil surface, which are covered with small cracks. It is better to look for mushrooms in light clearings and on forest edges.
How to collect truffles in the suburbs
It is almost impossible to find this mushroom in the Moscow region on its own. Mushroom pickers usually stumble upon it by accident. A targeted search for mushrooms is best done with the help of pigs or trained dogs.
Pigs (males) are able to smell the truffle smell from tens of meters away and do not need special training, but it is risky to use them – as soon as the pig finds a mushroom place, it can quickly eat the find. To prevent this from happening, muzzles are put on the animals.
In dogs, on the contrary, the truffle smell of the female is better captured. The advantage of using dogs is that they do not eat the find, however, their training takes a lot of time, and such animals are very expensive.
You can learn more about how to pick truffles in the Moscow region from the video below:
Conclusion
It is very difficult to find truffles in the Moscow region – the fruiting bodies are hidden underground, so it is better to take specially trained dogs with you to search. Unlike pigs, they are not interested in the find from a gastronomic point of view, so there is no risk of losing the harvest.
Since the search for truffle places in this area is extremely difficult, it is much easier to grow a valuable species on your own – the climate of the Moscow region allows this. The cultivation process is laborious, and the harvest is very small, but even so it is more profitable than long wanderings through the forest.