Truffles have been a food delicacy for ages. Europe has been the main source for this fascinating food with specialty farms having a virtual monopoly over the world wide distribution of these very expensive products. Now, in the last few years, Oregon has started to develop a huge following in the USA and around the world as a new leader in quality Truffle farming and gourmet foods..

Here at Cultural Oregon it is well known that if something has to do with eating, we will try it, if something has to do with being outdoors we will go and if some thing has to do with animal, we are there. So, imagine our delight when Cultural Oregon discovered that Oregon truffles fits into all of the above!

Mushrooms and truffles are related, both are fungi. The primary difference is that mushrooms grow above the ground and truffles grow beneath the ground. Another important difference is that some mushrooms are poisonous,

In Oregon there is no such thing as a poisonous truffle. As they grow underground you might wonder how they are found. In Oregon, specially trained dogs are used to sniff them out. As the smell of a truffle is very distinct, this is pretty easy to do. After all, dogs can be trained to sniff out drugs or explosives. In Europe, especially France, truffles are found mostly by female pigs. It seems that black ruffles exude an odor that the lady pigs mistake for male pig urine.

Though the pigs are natural born truffle hunters, if they come across a truffle when a handler is not nearby they will eat them. The French, in an effort to have more truffles are starting to train dogs as truffle hunters. They do not eat truffles and are easier to get in the car than a pig.

Oregon Truffles

Europe is the first place where truffles were used as a cooking ingredient. Even though they have a very strong aroma, they taste rather bland. Oregon harvests and uses two kinds of truffles. One is the Oregon black truffle and the other is the Oregon white truffle. Actually, two different truffles are counted as the white kind, they are the tuber oregonense and the tuber gibbosum. Only one truffle is categorized as an Oregon black truffle, it is the Leucangia carthusiana.

Before a chef gets hands on a truffle they are quite ugly. They are not large, a large stone or golf ball is about their size, though some can be a bit bigger. The outer skin is covered with warts and blemishes and are gnarled. When you see one after it is harvested you might be discouraged from trying it. On the other hand it is an all natural food product that depends on nature to grow and flourish.

Scientists feel that there are likely as many or more truffles in the Pacific Northwest since growing conditions are so ideal. Truffles thrive in the root systems of most trees and like a sandy soil. The Pacific North West, including Oregon, has these conditions along with a temperate climate.

It just may be that a whole new industry, the truffle harvesting industry could take off in Oregon. Already there are small operators of truffle harvesting companies working in Oregon. Chefs like Oregon truffles as well.

They cook as well as those imported from Europe but are much cheaper. The cost of French truffles, which til now have been preferred by chefs has been kept high. At one time France actually had truffle farms. There were nearly 200, 000 acres of forest land devoted to truffle harvesting.

However two world wars and industrialization of land destroyed the acreage. Recent attempts to start up a truffle industry have met with strong resistance from those who operate small pig driven harvesting operations as the prices are so high.

In fact, French Winter Black Truffles are $114 per ounce and French White is nearly $68 per ounce comparable Oregon truffles range in price from $15 per ounce for white and $18 per ounce for black. Still expensive, but far less than the imported truffles.

Overall this bodes well for Oregon. Not only Oregon chefs, but chefs from all over find that substituting Oregon truffles for European sourced truffles makes financial sense, especially since Oregon truffles are rated as highly as their French counterparts.

A great number of fine dining restaurants use Oregon truffles in preparing dishes. If you are adventuresome and have never tried truffles before, they can be found in many Oregon gourmet shops and a few groceries.

The Oregon Truffle Festival

So, truffles are a natural organic local sourced food product. Dogs in particular, are needed to find them as one accompanies them through the woods. All the ingredients for a perfect Oregon day. And, there is a place where you can actually participate in a dog led, Oregon truffle hunt.

The Oregon Truffle Festival, in Eugene has promoted Truffle hunting field trips. Sample truffles, buy truffles and truffle related products and cooking with truffles is also demonstrated. Nothing is more Oregon than this!

Steven Aldridge makes his home in Oregon, where he loves sharing his local experiences and activities with readers. Comments may be directed to articles@culturaloregon.com http://www.culturaloregon.com

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