Black truffle - description of where it grows, poisonous mushroom

Black truffles are appreciated even by the most sophisticated gourmets from around the world, fruit bodies are reckoned as marsupials. In today's article, we will consider everything that affects their features and external data, the specifics of growth and other important aspects. Truffles mean a delicacy, the price of which is for 1 kg. can reach up to a thousand dollars. The information below will help you make your own opinion about these tubers, which grow only in certain regions and require special conditions.

Description

1. Black truffle means French or Pogor mushroom, these names are also characteristic of this variety. The fruit specimen is attributed to the truffle family and the genus marsupials, in which there are more than thirty varieties. The name this mushroom received from the French region of Perigord.
2. As you already understood, the mushroom is an edible type. It is quite tasty, so it got fans around the world and conquered even the most spoiled gourmets. Growth is carried out in the soil, not shown above the surface of the earth. If we compare the structure with other mushrooms familiar to humans, then it is quite unusual. Initially, this instance was confused with simple land tubers.
3. The fruiting body is characteristic of marsupials and lichen apothecia. Its format is round or irregular in shape. The tuber in diameter can reach 9 cm. It is colored red-brown or saturated black, like coal. When pressed, the fruit body changes its color to rusty red. Its upper part is covered with warts-irregularities, which have 6 faces.
4. The soft part is compacted and hard, in young animals it is painted in a light tone. It is brownish pink or gray. Over the course of the life cycle, it is pigmented in black-violet or simply dark. If this fruiting body is cut, then in its soft part it is easy to notice red-white patterns. They are visible in age-old fungi. To taste the flesh is bitter, but does not repel. The smell is rich and pleasant.

Similar varieties

Black fruiting bodies are considered classic. But there are still some varieties that, according to certain characteristics, coincide with our representatives of the family.

1. Black Himalayan. A copy can reach a mass of 50 g. Taste is somewhat similar to nuts. Due to the fact that the size is small, it is quite difficult to search for these fruiting bodies.
2. Russian summer black. Large enough, in diameter it can grow up to 12 cm. By weight, fruiting bodies grow up to 0.45 kg. Over the life cycle, the soft part of the fruit changes in color. Initially, it is white, but then acquires a gray-brown tone. The taste resembles a nut. It grows in the Caucasus, in the Crimea, in Russia in the European part. Prefers to grow under oak or pine. Fruiting begins in early summer, it lasts until mid-autumn.
3. Burgundy black. The fruit body is of a rounded format, which by weight grows to 0.3 kg. It reaches 8–9 cm in length. The soft part is painted in a beige tone, and the structure is marble. The smell distinctly notes of cocoa beans.
4. Winter black. From the name it can be concluded that this variety prefers to bear fruit in the winter. Namely, from the last month of autumn until the end of winter. Fruits are rounded in format, in diameter reach 7–20 cm. By mass they grow up to 120 g. On the surface, characteristic growths are noticed, the fruiting body itself turns purple.It smells of musk, grows where there is linden or hazel. You can find in Switzerland, Italy and Ukraine.

Spread

1. This variety of the mushroom family is considered finicky in terms of conditions necessary for full growth. These specimens live in larches, form a powerful alliance with some trees. Among them are oak, hazel.
2. Truffles cannot be called parasitic fungi. Due to the fact that they work closely with certain trees, the latter receive the necessary nutrients and water from the soil. Mushrooms also do not deprive themselves, but they do not harm others either. They protect trees from various diseases.
3. Weeds do not grow in the growing areas of the variety of fruiting bodies under discussion. It's all about the ability of the fungus to destroy other vegetation, except for the tree with which symbiosis is built. Such places are called nothing more than circles of witches.
4. As for the depth of the considered fruiting bodies, it can reach up to half a meter. It is because of this characteristic feature of mushrooms that their search is significantly more complicated for humans. In addition, due to the specific growth process, the specimens are of high cost.
5. Presented truffles prefer non-oversaturated with nutrient enzymes soil. In addition, it must be calcareous. If you want to try dishes with such a mushroom, it is best to go to Europe. In this case, you will taste the original delicacy.
6. However, despite all this, the fruiting bodies in question grow in countries other than France. The fruiting body is widespread in Italy, Spain and in the south-west of France. In addition, in China, experts have learned to grow mushrooms artificially.
7. The ideal time to collect specimen data is considered to be the end of autumn and before the beginning of spring. Experienced mushroom pickers often go in search of truffles in the first months after the New Year. At this time, the fruiting season of truffles is at its peak.

Treatment

1. Considered fruiting bodies are very popular all over the world. Black truffles have become famous not only because of their high cost, but also because of an unsurpassed taste that does not look like anything. The mushroom has truly won the hearts of many.
2. However, it is worth mentioning that not everyone understands the delights of taste notes, having first tasted such a fruiting body. Therefore, real gourmets are always advised to try the delicacy at least twice. Only then can one judge how good the truffle is.
3. The taste of such an instance can hardly be compared with anything. The same can be said about its exquisite aroma. When enjoying the mushroom, you can feel the notes of the forest in which it grew. Echoes of alcohol and chocolate are also felt.
4. In the culinary world, professional chefs prepare a lot of different dishes that can complement the truffle. Most often, in its raw form, the fruiting body acts as a seasoning. In addition to this, specimens are often subjected to heat treatment.
5. The taste and aroma qualities of the mushroom are excellent with pasta, rice and egg dishes. It is worth noting that after collecting truffles can maintain a fresh look for a very short period of time. Therefore, during the fruiting season, professional mushroom pickers in the pursuit of truffle arrange real wars among themselves.
6. The same goes for markets. Representatives of French restaurants try to buy the fruit bodies in question as quickly as possible. After this, the chefs seek to cook a lot of different dishes to please the client. This is because all the gourmets who flock from different parts of the planet want to try the truffle.

Search and collection

1. Truffles must be collected before preparing a gourmet meal. Do not forget that such a process is quite time-consuming.Therefore, you need to prepare for this in all seriousness. To go hunting for specimens, you should definitely bring specially trained dogs or pigs with you.
2. It is these animals that have a sharp sense of smell and are able to detect the fruiting places of the fungi in question. In this case, after the discovery of truffles, they must be carefully dug up without damaging the root system of the tree and the fruit itself.

Black truffles are some of the most expensive delicacies on the planet. Their value can sometimes really hit. The problem remains that such fruiting bodies are difficult to find. In addition, they in most cases grow individually. Therefore, do not hope that you can collect a huge crop at a time.

Video: black truffle (Tuber melanosporum)