Truffles

[falling rain]

Has anyone any experience of truffle hunting? Do you definately need a trained dog or pig or is it possible to hunt them on your own? I hope this isn't a stupid question. As far as I know (which isn't a lot) they grow underground slightly especially under oak trees in the Autumn. Huge furry whittlin' tool went with a chap on one of his programmes and took his pig along to help him sniff them out, and I remember reading a long time ago about a chap in north England somewhere who used to hunt truffles for a living with his jack russel I think. Any experience anyone?

 

[Marts]

No experience, but it reminded me of something I saw the other day. If I had a garden I would be tempted to try it.

Truffle trees

 

[JonnyP]

I could probably borrow a pig off someone, if you want to try.............Jon

 

[Keith_Beef]

You don't need a pig or a dog, you can find them yourself if you know the right environment and can read the signs....

I can't help you further, but I know a couple of people who go mushrooming in south west France and who get the occasional truffle (without a trained animal).

I think that the pig or dog neds to be trained.

And if it's a big pig, then you had better have a rop atached to a ring through its nose, or you'll not get your truffle; the pig will eat it.


K.

 

[falling rain]

I could probably borrow a pig off someone, if you want to try.............Jon

Not planning to at the moment Jon but thanks for the offer. I may have a little look in the Autumn if I can find a likely looking spot and can get some pointers on likely places to look for them.

 

[Tengu]

Pig better than dog, have more sensitive nose.

 

[Neanderthal]

Won't the chocolate have melted in this weather?

 

[Ketchup]

Didn't know there were truffels in Britain?

I always thought they didn't grow North of Paris (before they introduced modern technology, that is)

 

[locum76]

i agree with ketchup. i'm pretty positive truffles don't grow in the uk.
they might in localised areas but nobody is going to tell you where they are.

 

[george]

They certainly do grow in the UK.

See this stuff taken from here: http://www.truffle-uk.co.uk/home_uk_summer_truffle.php

Tuber aestivum (var uncinatum): the English truffle is roundish in shaped covered with coarse polygonal warts, black in colour outside and brownish and veined with white within; its average size is about that of a small apple. It grows from July till autumn or winter; and prefers beech, oak and birch woods on argillaceous or calcareous soil and has sometimes been observed in pine woods. It grows gregariously, often in company with Tuber brumale and in France and Italy.

Tuber brumale: referred to above, grown in Britain. It is a winter truffle and is found chiefly under oaks and abele trees from October to December. It is black in colour, globose, more or less regular in shape and is covered with sharp polygonal warts: the mature flesh is blackish grey marbled with white veins. The odour is very strong and lasts a long time: the taste is generally esteemed agreeable.

Hope this helps

George

 

[rich59]

If anyone finds a truffle I don't suppose they could send me a bit? I want to use some to surround germinating acorns, hazel nuts and beech nuts and hope to produce a truffle harvest in a few years.

 

[jasons]

Won't the chocolate have melted in this weather?

 

[speedstar]

Pig better than dog, have more sensitive nose.

i met a man once who lost 3 fingers to a pig trying to get a truffle from it i know strange but true :werd:

 

[Lithril]

Anyone know what they actually taste like.


Going to watch this thread with interest a guy I work with has just been given some truffle scent to try and train his dog to find them. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.

 

[ArkAngel]

Not sure exactly what they taste like.

We used to use truffle oil in the kitchen at one country park where i worked.

It was blindingly expensive stuff, and to be honest the smell put me off trying it
It was a very very strong smell and not comparable with anything else i have come accross.

 

[speedstar]

Anyone know what they actually taste like.


Going to watch this thread with interest a guy I work with has just been given some truffle scent to try and train his dog to find them. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.

they taste like truffles

 

[Buckshot]

they taste like truffles

Not chicken then???

 

[speedstar]

Not chicken then???

sorry could not help my self it had to be done i have no idaer what the taste like as thay cost so much and are so hard to find i have no bothered to try them

 

[outdoorgirl]

I believe Hugh Fearlessly-Eatsitall tried training his pig (Delia) to hunt truffles by using some other, similar scented, but more easily available item.. I'll dig out the DVD this evening and check what it was. She found one, so it must work...

ODG

 

[Spikey DaPikey]

Yup Hugh Imgonnaeatitall did go truffle hunting with a pig