Return of the Black Melanosporum Truffle

You have all been waiting for it! The beginning of winter heralds the return of the Queen of truffles: the Black Melanosporum Truffle! As the holiday season approaches, the black diamond of gastronomy is making its presence felt on all the market stalls and delicatessens. A look at this precious mushroom so appreciated by gourmets.

The Black Truffle is without doubt the best known and most appreciated by truffle lovers

The Black Truffle is without doubt the best known and most appreciated for its unique and powerful aromas (dry mushroom, undergrowth, hazelnut). Of more or less rounded appearance, it is also of variable size and weight (from 5 to 10cm in diameter for 20 to 100g). Its colour ranges from grey to black with fine white veins at maturity. This variety is grown in the south and centre of France (Périgord, Quercy, Drôme, Lot, etc.) but also in Italy and Spain.

Melanonosporum is harvested from mid-November to the end of March, with a peak season from December

In cooking, the Black Truffle is equally suited to cold and hot dishes. However, it develops more flavour in a hot dish. However, it is important to avoid long cooking times and and too hot to preserve all its flavour.

With its pronounced flavours of undergrowth, humus, mushroom and sometimes leather, the Black Truffle can be combined with a variety of recipes

With its strong flavours, it can be combined with a a variety of recipes such as pastapasta, a risottorisotto, a brouillade of eggs, a red or white meatmeat, a fish or shellfish. Prefer mild foods or foods with rather"neutral" flavours.

It can, for example, also be used in a sauce (slowly infused in cream or white butter) or reveal its most raw flavours by being eaten raw in shavings or in thin strips added to a dish. Purists will appreciate it as such, simply placed on a slice of toasted butter or to enhance young shoots.

It is recommended that the correct product weight be used in all recipes to ensure success:

• 3 to 4 grams of truffle per egg, otherwise the omelette will have little taste.
• For all truffle dishes: at least 10 grams of truffle per person.

You can find our entire range of canned black truffles on La Halle des Gourmets and all our fresh truffles in our shops in Paris and Lyon!

Happy Holidays with Artisan de la Truffe !