Truffle mushrooms - The Famous Mushrooms
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Truffle mushrooms
Truffle mushrooms are a rare, edible mushroom that is famous for it’s delicacy in many parts of the world. Generally harvested in the wild, they are quite expensive.
The famous Truffle mushrooms
Black Truffle Mushroom
Truffles are irregularly-shaped with sometimes smooth, though usually bumpy or wrinkled cap. The taste of a truffle is often compared to garlic blended with an earthy, mushroomy flavor.
They are most often served uncooked and shaved into foods like pasta, salads, or omelets. Truffles are mainly found in the forests of France, Italy, and Slovenia.
There are dozens of different types of truffles ranging in size. Some of the most famous varieties; are the Italian white truffle, the French black truffle, the summer black truffle, and the March truffle.
The white truffle, often referred to as the white diamond, is considered the rarest type of truffle, demanding one of the highest prices.
Growing Basics for interested farmers.
Growing truffles commercially can be a very expensive risk to take since the cost and the price mostly don’t average out in the end. Also, as with any agricultural endeavor, truffle growing requires time and energy.
Though easier than many other crops, a potential grower should be aware of the work and care involved as your our orchard may have special conditions.
Truffle mushrooms are a fungi that can only survive by attaching itself in a mutually beneficial way to certain types of tree roots in what is called a symbiotic relationship. The resulting combination of fungus, roots and other select organisms form a structure called mycorrhiza. The trees are planted in a high density orchard. Small plantings are not recommended, as they will probably result in failure due to under-colonization. With the adequate soil conditions, climate, and time span, the delectable mushrooms should be expected to produce.
Certain types of soil support only a specific host tree but truffle bearing trees commonly used include: the chestnut, pine, willow, oak, and the Black Perigord or the Black Burgundy.
Only certain climates and soils lend themselves well for truffle mushroom cultivation. In North America, only the Mid-Atlantic States have proven to be reliable, with ideal soil types and climatic conditions.
There are specifics for every location but several soil types could also be acceptable once they have been amended with lime. Moisture throughout the year is essential and the orchard must have a source of clean water for irrigation.
It is also recommend that a variety of mulch materials be used for moisture conservation, weed control, and soil aeration. Good drainage is a must, as the trees cannot tolerate standing water. In cases where the seedlings are young, weeds can be extremely detrimental and control can be accomplished by a combination of cultivating, spraying and/or mulching. Cultivating at appropriate times also helps to incorporate lime, control weeds, aerate the soil, and promote root growth.
Since restaurants and food/mushroom brokers are constantly looking for suppliers of this scarce gourmet commodity,harvesting and marketing from your own farm can be very rewarding.
In the wild, truffle hunting is big business during truffle season, which generally lasts from fall to spring. In order to minimize damage to the plants, trained dogs are used to locate the truffles because they are underground.
Caution
These mushrooms are famous and expensive but hunters/pickers of mushrooms in the wild should be careful not to mistake it for another. Truffle mushrooms should also not be confused with chocolate-covered truffles, a confectionery that has no relation to mushroom truffles.