Published by: Gourmet Sleuth Last Updated: 03/08/2020
Truffles are a fungus grown and harvested predominantly in France and Italy. Gourmets have treasured "black pearls" for their aroma and taste for 3500 years. Truffles grow 3-12 inches deep around the roots of chestnut, oak, hazel, and beech trees.
Truffles are just like their cousin the mushroom only growing under ground instead of above ground. Humans use specially trained pigs or dogs to sniff out and dig up these aromatic and priceless delicacies. Though pigs are better at ferreting out the truffles, dogs are easier to control once they have retrieved the brown, black or white fungus. Truffles are literally worth more than their weight in gold.