This treasure is found in certain forests of France and Italy (no, not a snipe hunt). Legal hunting requires a license. And, specially trained dogs are a must to successfully find this valuable loot. Do you know what this treasure is?
Truffles! And we don’t mean chocolates.
Truffles are a very special delicatessen from the mushroom family, sometimes referred to as “diamonds of the kitchen” due to their scarcity. Naturally occurring only in specific regions of Italy and France, they grow underground and are among the most expensive foods, with certain varieties selling upwards of several hundreds of dollars per pound!
Often sprinkled over dishes to elevate a good meal into something much more extraordinary, or blended into oils and salts, truffles have been highly sought after since Greek and Roman times.
Truffles are so elusive that neither man nor machine can locate them on their own, relying on canines’ or pigs’ keen sense of smell to find them.
Pigs or “truffle hogs” were the traditional choice for truffle hunters for generations because they have a keen sense of smell and naturally seek out truffles without needing training. Unfortunately, their natural affinity for truffles means they like to EAT them!
Dogs are more commonly used nowadays because they don’t particularly care for the valuable delicacies. Dogs though, unlike pigs, require truffle training. There are specialized dog training universities for truffle hunting in France and Italy. We all need a specialty – right?
Truffle treasure hunting is a popular activity if you are traveling to certain regions of France or Italy, including Provence and Tuscany during the late fall and winter hunting season. Some river cruise itineraries also offer it as an excursion.
If you are a foodie or just want to participate in a unique activity on your next trip to Europe, truffle treasure hunting could be just the thing for you! One of many unique experiences I’d love to help you discover.
Have you ever been truffle hunting?
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