Summer Truffle

Various | Curious Nature

Fungi are a separate kingdom from animals and plants. Truffles are the “fruits” of a sac fungus that forms a symbiotic relationship with the root systems of some trees – that is one that benefits both the fungus and the tree by sharing nutrients. The growing interest to harvest truffles for food means that studying its genome will reveal more about its reproduction and life cycle.

A symbiotic relationship

Fungi, things like mushrooms, moulds and yeast, are a separate kingdom from animals and plants. Truffles are the “fruits” of a sac fungus that forms a symbiotic relationship with the root systems of some trees – that is one that benefits both the fungus and the tree by sharing nutrients. Summer truffles are found just below the ground under beech, hazel, oak and birch trees. They grow best in chalky soil, so Kent, Surrey, Wiltshire and Hampshire have traditionally been truffle-hunting territory in England.

Traditionally, female pigs were used to hunt truffles because they are attracted to a chemical in the truffle. However, today dogs are most commonly used because they can be trained to find the truffle scent, are easier to control – and don’t want to eat the truffle that they find, unlike the pigs!

Take a sniff!

Truffles have a distinctive, earthy smell when they have ripened. The truffle’s smell has developed to attract animals to find it and eat it, so that its spores will be released, enabling the fungus to spread.

Discovering the Great British Truffle

Marion Dean and Marion Pennington

The truffle, a prized and luxurious ingredient in the kitchen, is perhaps most associated with the cuisine and the countryside of France and Italy but it is also native to the UK – and it may be more plentiful than you might expect! There was a busy trade in English truffles from the 18th to the early 20th century. Today, the growing interest in locally sourced food, for foraging and in growing your own, has helped bring the English summer truffle to more people’s attention once again.

Truffle products

Truffles are a desirable and often expensive foodstuff. Their strong scent and flavour means that a little can go a long way. Whilst the the Périgord black and the Italian white are the most prized – and eye-wateringly expensive! – varieties the summer truffle is still popular. They can be bought fresh when they are hunted in the summer months, or as preserved or processed products. The summer truffle is black with a distinct warty surface and a marbled creamy pattern on the inside.