Five Surprising Things About Truffles That Will Make You Want to Go on a Truffle-Hunting Adventure (No Firearm Involved)

Though only around 13 species of truffles are of culinary interest, there are over 180 types of truffles found all over the world (many of which are inedible). In Piedmont, Italy, three of the most valuable, delicious, and rare truffles are:

White Alba truffles: The most expensive (around $3,000–$9,000 per pound), rare, and valuable type of truffle, these cream-colored, knobbly treasures have an earthy umami flavor and are delicious shaved over pasta, steak, and scrambled egg. They grow in the forests around Alba, a town in the Piedmont region of Italy.

Bianchetto truffles: Known as the Alba’s little brother, ripe Bianchetto truffles are a rusty brown color and marbled with white veins. They have hints of garlic, cheese, and mineral notes, and complement risotto, smoked salmon, and game meats.

Black Norcia truffles: The most prized black truffle, black Norcia truffles (also known as black Périgord) have a fruity, nutty flavor with notes of cocoa; some say they taste like melting chocolate and even brandy. They are a common variety in Umbria, Italy.

The International Alba White Truffle Fair is the place where truffle connoisseurs congregate every autumn to seek out the season’s best varieties directly from truffle hunters. Held in Piedmont in the postcard-worthy town of Alba (where this truffle grows in the surrounding forests), it celebrates with costume parades, folklore performances, truffle tastings, cooking classes, and Michelin meals featuring this prized ingredient in all its delectable forms.

The festival is also known for its cultural and musical event program and truffle-inspired “Unusual Dinners” hosted in unexpected venues, like the Castle of Roddi and a town theatre stage.

It runs in the middle of truffle-hunting season (in 2025 from October 11 – December 8), meaning visitors can go truffle hunting too, even at night, when the truffles are more fragrant and the senses more heightened (contact us to book this experience).

P.S. Don’t miss out on this truffle adventure! We’re planning a journey around this festival for this November (2025), And if you’d prefer a tailor-made truffle-hunting/festival journey, we can do that too, contact us to join or create one for you!

Truffles grow underground, attaching themselves to tree roots. They have a symbiotic relationship with their chosen tree host — often oak, poplar, hazelnut, or pine — providing it with nutrients and minerals. In return, the tree provides the truffles with sugars and carbohydrates. This is why truffles are found in forests and why their flavors can be influenced by the trees on which they grow.

From our point of view, truffle hunting offers a unique kind of forest bathing. There’s nothing like crunching your way through an Italian forest in the cool evening, with the dank and pungent truffle aromas seeping through the ground. It is a total escape from the busy, constantly connected world and utterly addictive.

Go on, try it — contact us to join our next truffle-hunting journey.