By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
Earthy, intoxicating, elusive and often outrageously expensive, truffles are the kind of delicacy that makes food lovers pack their passports and plan their next holiday around what’s buried beneath the forest floor.
So, where do you go when you’ve got truffle fever? Alongside some of the most iconic monuments in the world, here are the best spots to chase the ‘black gold’ of culinary culture.
Italy: The OG truffle hotspot
Pizza and pasta may have put Italy on the map (and the menu), but truffles have kept it there. Particularly, the region of Piedmont, which is practically paradise for fungi fans. In fact, each Autumn, white truffle season takes over Alba, a town that hosts the International Alba White Truffle Fair - basically the Oscars for truffle aficionados.
You can join a local trifolao (truffle hunter), and their trusty dog to forage through the woods, and then reward your efforts with a steaming plate of tajarin pasta, shaved with generous amounts of your earthy bounty. Pro tip: don’t wear white sneakers.
France: Fine wine and finer fungi
Alongside mille-feuille, macarons and Madelines, the French have put truffles on the menu. Especially in the Perigord region of Southwestern France, where truffle tourism has taken off and black truffles (tuber melanosporum) tossle with foie gras for the status of the area’s best epicurean exports.
Here, truffle markets pop up in Winter and locals sniff, inspect and haggle like seasoned dealers. Travellers can join truffle hunting tours that finish with rustic farm lunches and wine pairings.
Oregon, USA: The Pacific Northwest’s secret stash
When people think of American truffles, most imagine something wrapped in chocolate. However, the Pacific Northwest is hiding a secret: real-deal native truffles, found in the forests of Oregon.
The Oregon Truffle Festival has become a pilgrimage for both curious foodies - who can go on guided hunts with dogs and creative Chefs - ready to swap pretentious plating techniques for the down-to-earth discoveries hidden beneath the local pine trees.
Spain: A haven for hunter-gatherers and well-fed wanderers
Spain might be better known for jamon and paella, but the region of Aragon is becoming a top contender in the truffle game. Black truffles are now big business here and the countryside is dotted with family-run truffle farms offering tours and tastings.
The experience is less rustic and more refined, with high-end restaurants serving up truffle-laced menus that pair perfectly with a robust red.
Australia: Tim Tams and truffles
Do you come from a Land Down Under? Well, it’s time to celebrate its contributions to the culinary world…beyond meat pies and Tim Tams! This is because the cold climates of Tasmania and Western Australia have proven to be prime ground for cultivating black truffles and Aussie farmers are now serious players on the global stage.
In fact, the annual Truffle Kerfuffle festival in Manjimup draws thousands of enthusiasts for truffle hunts, tastings, cooking demos and general deliciousness. However, it is on hiatus this year.
Japan: Land of the Rising Truffle
Surprise! Japan has entered the truffle chat. Although not known for truffles in the traditional European sense, the island nation has embraced them in its own ultra-precise way. Chefs in Tokyo and Kyoto now use imported truffles with the same reverence as sushi-grade toro.
Some have even started experimenting with native varieties found in Hokkaido, pairing them with dishes like chawanmushi (savoury egg custard) or Wagyu beef. It's a modern take on an ancient obsession.
