White truffle - description of where it grows, poisonous mushroom

White truffle is one of the most delicious mushrooms, which has not only excellent taste characteristics, but also has high nutritional value. However, its appearance does not cause appetite at all.

This variety of truffles is the most common and popular among lovers of quiet hunting in our country. You can find this delicious mushroom in almost any forest located in a temperate climate.

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White truffle is an edible mushroom that grows underground. Also, this species is known to many under such names as Polish, or Trinity Truffle. Note that these names are closely related to the territorial features of the growth of this species of mushrooms.

The shape of the fruit body resembles medium-sized potato tuber (from 10 cm), while the weight of such a gift of nature can reach 1.5 kg. The surface is characteristic - it resembles felt, in young mushrooms it is quite light, without any defects or bumps. With age, the body of the truffle becomes covered with peculiar dents and protrusions - the color of the surface becomes yellow-brown.

The mushroom flesh is white, in mature specimens with a grayish tint, pierced by meandering veins of brown color, which resembles marble. The taste of the pulp is indefinite, the aroma is pronounced, nut-mushroom. Spores are large with small processes, white, spherical shape.

Distribution, collection

The peak of ripening white truffle is from mid-summer to October. Many mushroom pickers have noticed that the yield of this mushroom is constantly changing. Nevertheless, knowing the places where the truffle grows, you can annually collect a rich crop of mushrooms. Best “know” where he grows, such domestic animals as goats and cows. This is due to their subtle sense of smell, which allows you to quickly and accurately recognize the location of mycelium. This often serves as a kind of clue for most mushroom pickers who are busy searching for this natural delicacy.

Finding truffles on their own is quite difficult, since most of its fruit body is in the soil. Nevertheless, experienced truffle seekers, first of all, when searching for mushrooms, pay attention to the unevenness of the relief, since the tubercles on the ground can hide quite large white truffle mushrooms underneath. This fungus grows mainly in small colonies, the number of which reaches 30 specimens.

Primary processing and preparation

Harvested white truffles can be stored in a cold place for up to 5 days, for longer storage of these mushrooms, the latter can be buried in the cellar underground. Before cooking, the fruiting bodies are washed thoroughly, after which the pulp is fried or boiled.

Another common type of processing of truffle for subsequent cooking is drying, while before that, as a rule, it is not washed, only all contaminants are carefully removed with a knife.Although this method of processing implies that its fruiting body will greatly lose in size, nevertheless, the mushroom will become even more fragrant, filling the dishes prepared from it with an exquisite taste.

Precautions: what you should know?

Before going on a quiet hunt for white truffles, any mushroom picker should study the information about this natural delicacy and its counterparts that are dangerous to health and life.

Often, even experienced mushroom pickers confuse an edible mushroom with its counterpart, deer truffle, which also grows beneath the surface of the earth. The color of the fruiting body of such a fungus is red-brown, the entire surface is covered with small tubercles. Note that this type of mushroom is a favorite treat not only of forest deer, but also of hares and squirrels. However, this type of food is not suitable for cooking - it can cause indigestion.

Often, such mushrooms as skledroms, which are inedible relatives of the raincoat, begin to grow underground. A characteristic difference between this species is an unpleasant odor and a dark core with light veins.

Benefit and harm

Truffle is one of the few mushrooms that has earned worldwide recognition as the most valuable mushroom in cooking. This is due to its rather high indicators of nutritional value, excellent aroma and delicate taste of pulp, reminiscent of juicy chicken meat. At the same time, the calorie content of white truffle is quite low - only 25 kcal per 100 grams of product, so those people who worry about their figure and constantly control body weight can eat it without any fear.

In addition to its exceptional taste and nutritional value, white truffle also has many other positive properties:

1. This mushroom contains a rich complex of vitamins and minerals that contribute to the restoration of normal hormonal levels. Eating truffle, anyone will immediately pay attention to changing their well-being to a better place.
2. The inclusion of white truffle in your diet will help to activate and strengthen the immune system, which is determined by the content of elements such as ascorbic acid and riboflavin in this fungus.
3. The composition of the truffle also includes antioxidants, significantly enhancing the regenerative processes, which suggests that the use of this fungus will help slow down the natural aging process.
4. Regular consumption of this type of mushroom will help restore vision.

Interesting Facts

White truffle is used not only for the preparation of culinary masterpieces valuable in their characteristics, but also in the field of cosmetology. Truffle extract is used to create special regenerating masks and creams that can quickly and effectively rejuvenate the skin.

In conclusion, I would like to say that white truffle is a safe edible mushroom that can harm human health only if the technology of its storage and preparation has been violated. It should also be borne in mind that many experts do not recommend using this gift of Mother Nature to those people who are prone to an allergic reaction or who have ailments of the digestive system.

Video: White Truffle (Choiromyces venosus)