THE BLACK DIAMOND

TRUFFLE "THE BLACK DIAMOND"

For thousands of year, the truffle, one of nature's noblest gastronomic ingredients has been synonymous with banquets, conviviality and unforgettable moments of savoury delight. Brillat Savarin christened it " the black diamond " by experts it is known as "Tuber melanosporum" and for many it is simply " the Perigord truffle"! we prefer to call it by its true name "La Rabasse "

It belongs to the mushroom family. It tends to make women more tender and men more likeable." .

:=> It is an aphrodisiac agent which acts on the mind and causes the arousal of the mood of sexual desire. The name comes from the Greek goddess of Sensuality Aphrodite. Desire can be stimulated by a variety of events or situations (see sexual arousal), but this article focuses on foods and drugs to which an aphrodisiac effect has been attributed.


LOCATION

:=> TRUFFLES grow in loose, humid, sun-soaked soil, particularly beneath elm and oak trees, where their mycelium are nourished by the roots. Their harvesting season goes from November to the beginning of March. Their celestial flavor and delicate upbringing make them luxury commodities, creating a lucrative industry in otherwise quiet, provincial villages of the South of France and parts of Italy.

:=> Truffles are found anywhere from two to 16 inches (5 to 40 cm) below the ground,usually in a circular formation about four to five feet (120 to 150 cm) from the base of an oak tree. A number of varieties exist including desert truffle found in the Middle East and the Mediterranean.

MOST EXPENSIVE TRUFFLE

As truffles are considered a delicacy, their prices can be astonishingly high at times. The world's most expensive truffle was a 1.51 kilogram rare White Alba truffle. It was sold for 125,000 Euros (Hong Kong Dollar $1,250,000; US $160,000) on November 13, 2006 to Hongkong property tycoon Sir Gordon Wu. This price beats the previous world record of 95,000 Euros for a 1.21 kilogram White Alba truffle in 2005. The 2006 auction took place at the Castle of Grinzane Cavour in Italy, with three auction houses taking part (via satellite link): Castle of Grinzane, Hong Kong, Paris.