Truffles Around the WorldEuropean TrufflesThe truffles of Europe actually belong to more than one genus and are of several species in each genus. They are marketed as White Truffles and Black Truffles. Black truffles, Tuber melanosporum, come from the Quercy and Perigord regions of France and the Umbria region of Italy. They are called Black Diamonds in France. They are used many dishes especially in pate de foie gras (fatted goose or duck liver). White truffles, Tuber magnatum, are from the Piedmont region of Northern Italy. Their aroma is generally stronger than the black truffles and they taste "garlicky." New sources in Asia have been recently located for Tuber magnatum and Tuber melanosporum. Except for attempts to cultivate them, the European truffles are not found in North America. One successful endeavor is www.garlandtruffles.com owned by Frank Garland. Chinese TrufflesAsian look-alikes to the Tuber melanosporum began showing up about in world markets in 1994. These Chinese Black Truffles, Tuber himalayensis, appear to be the same as T. melanosporum unless the spores are examined microscopically. While these look the same, they do not have the same flavor. According to various reports (including some on the net- see FUNGUS and Botanical Electronic News #98) some unscrupulous mushroom dealers have been dousing the T. himalayensis with T. melanosporum flavored oil or putting one or two T. melanosporum in with a basket of T. himalayensis to obtain the high prices commanded by the rare Black Diamonds. More information on the Net about Oregon TrufflesTom Volk's Fungus Of The Month: The Oregon White Truffle Oregon
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