TABLE OF CONTENTS
Best Italian Truffle Types
Tartufo bianco d'Alba is an extremely rare Italian white truffle (lat. Tuber magnatum pico) found in the Alba region from October to December. The truffles grow symbiotically with hazel, poplar, beech, and oak. Their rich flavor and aroma is often described as moldy, earthy, oniony, cheesy, and garlicky.
On the inside, these pale cream or brown truffles have a white, marbled, and creamy interior that is riddled with ivory veins. They pair extremely well with cheese, crab, beef, and chicken. Many purists believe that these expensive mushrooms should be used exclusively to top off pasta, risottos, pot roasts, and egg or potato dishes.
THE BEST Tartufo bianco d'Alba White Truffles
Named after the French Périgord region, black Périgord truffles (lat. Tuber mélanosporum) grow nestled in the roots of hazelnut and oak trees and are typically harvested during autumn and winter.
Bulbous and irregularly shaped, the truffles are full of white veins on the inside. They are characterized by their unique, pungent, and earthy fragrance. When fully mature (from December to March), they release their distinctively musky and slightly sweet flavor, which is why Périgord black truffles are one of the most expensive edible fungi in existence.
VARIATIONS OF Tartufo di Norcia
Tartufo di Bagnoli (lat. Tuber mesentericum vitt) is a truffle that's harvested from October to March and grows in limestone and clay soil forests with oaks, hornbeam, beech, maple, and hazel trees. Its aromas are very unpleasant, reminiscent of bitter almonds.
The exterior is black or brown with small warts. The interior is yellowish, grey, or brown. The flavor is also bitter, making it unappetising and little appreciated. Eat it raw, thinly shaved over various dishes.
Black summer truffle, also known as Scorzone (lat. Tuber aestivum vitt) is a summer truffle that's easily recognizable by its rough, warted, black surface. This alligator skin-like surface is covered with tiny diamond-shaped projections that are molded by stones which surround the truffle while it's still in the soil.
When fully mature, its flesh is pale grey with white marbling. The aroma is rich and woodsy, while the flavors are garlicky, mushroomy, and earthy with hints of hazelnuts. This truffle is harvested during the summer, hence the name. Shave it fresh over pasta or add it to sauces for more depth.
THE BEST Black summer truffle Black Truffles
San Miniato hills are one of Europe’s most prosperous areas for the growth of white truffles, locally also known as cibo da re, meaning kings’ food. Tartufo di San Miniato (lat. Tuber magnatum) has a shiny outer layer and a pulp that ranges in color from chestnut brown to hazel.
Its dimensions can vary - currently, the world’s largest white truffle, weighing in at 2,520 kg was discovered in San Miniato in 1954. Due to its strong scent and pleasant flavor reminiscent of fermented cheese, the white truffle from San Miniato is a star of Tuscan autumn.
White spring truffle (lat. Tuber borchii vitt) is an Italian truffle that's spread throughout the peninsula, from sandy to limestone and clay soils. The exterior is very similar to that of Tartufo bianco d'Alba, but luckily, they don't ripen at the same time – this one is harvested from January to the end of April.
Bianchetto has a smooth and pale-white surface, while the interior is reddish-brown with rough, wide, and branched veins that are whitish but turn brown over time. The aroma is intense (but not as intense as that of the real white truffle) and reminiscent of garlic, while the flavor is not particularly pleasant.
Muscat truffle (lat. Tuber brumale vitt), also known as Trifola nera and Brumale truffle, is an Italian winter truffle that's harvested from January to March. It grows where the earth is at least a medium depth, in the hills, plains, or mountains, in symbiosis with oak, beech, hazel, and hornbeam trees.
The exterior is black with low, flattened warts, while the interior is grey or brown with white veining. The aroma is pungent, but less intense than that of other black truffles. The flavor is pleasant.
Nero Liscio truffle (lat. Tuber macrosporum) is a rarely found truffle that grows in the same area as the Piedmont white truffle. These truffles, however, can withstand droughts and grow several of them in the same hole.
The exterior is reddish brown with warts, while the interior is whitish-brown and becomes rusty-brown when mature, between August and September. The aroma is similar to that of white truffles, but the flavor is more garlicky. These truffles grow with poplar, willow, hornbeam, and oak trees.
Burgundy truffle (lat. Tuber aestivum var uncinatum) is the autumn variety of black summer truffle. These truffles are available in the fall (September to late December) and look like small rocks with a rough surface. The exterior is brown, with large diamond-shaped points.
The interior is coffee-colored and veined. The aroma is musky, and the flavor is earthy and nutty, stronger than the summer truffle (because these truffles have spent more time underground), but not as pungent as the winter truffle. The price is much lower than that of black summer truffles.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Best Italian Truffle Producers
Tartuflanghe is a company based in Italy that specializes in producing gourmet products, including chocolates infused with truffles. The company was founded in 1980 in Piobesi d’Alba, a small town in the Piedmont region, known for its truffle tradition.
In addition to chocolates, Tartuflanghe also produces a wide range of truffle-based products such as oils, pasta, and sauces.
AWARDS
International Chocolate Awards - Gold
2017
International Chocolate Awards - Silver
2016
International Chocolate Awards - Bronze
2016, 2015
BEST Tartuflanghe Truffles
Alba Royal Truffles is a distinguished company specializing in the sale of premium white and black truffles, as well as a curated selection of truffle-infused products. Their offerings include fresh Alba white truffles, celebrated for their velvety exterior and rich aroma, and black truffles, each meticulously sourced from the renowned truffle regions of Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato.
For enthusiasts seeking an immersive experience, the company organizes exclusive truffle hunting excursions in the woods of Langa and Roero. Participants accompany experienced truffle hunters and their dogs, learning about truffle characteristics, history, and foraging techniques amidst the picturesque UNESCO-listed hills.
BEST Alba Royal Truffles Truffles
Éleat Tartufi Alba is a family-owned company founded by Giulia and Alex, both born in the Langhe region, renowned for its stunning landscapes, prestigious vineyards, and rare white truffles. Their passion for this precious natural treasure led to the opening of their boutique in Alba on April 13, 2019.
The company offers a wide range of truffle products, including fresh truffles, truffle sauces, oils, butters, and specialties such as tagliolini with truffles and polenta with porcini mushrooms. In addition, Éleat Tartufi Alba organizes unique truffle hunting experiences, giving participants the chance to explore private truffle woods with their trained Lagotto Romagnolo dogs and uncover the secrets of this craft.
BEST Éleat Tartufi Alba Truffles
Tartufi & Co. is located in the historic center of Alba, Italy, renowned for offering high-quality white and black truffles, as well as a variety of truffle-based products and traditional Piedmontese specialties. Their selection includes truffle-infused oils, black truffle carpaccio, local mushrooms, hazelnuts, cured meats, cheeses, and wines from esteemed local wineries.
The store is dedicated to providing authentic Piedmontese gastronomic products and organizes tasting events to showcase these delicacies. They also offer nationwide shipping across Italy, ensuring that customers can enjoy their premium products throughout the country.
BEST Tartufi & Co Truffles
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.