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Summer truffle is the only type of black truffle that grows in Russia. It refers to the delicious. You can not find it everywhere. Consider how the representatives of this species look when they bear fruit, and what kind of mushrooms exist.
For many years, researchers have argued about whether black truffles are found in nature on the territory of our country. But today everyone knows that a positive answer can be given to this question. A mushroom of this species is very rare in nature, but it still exists.
Description
Summer truffle has the Latin name Tuber aestivum. This is a marsupial mushroom that can be eaten. A view has several other names. For example, scorzone, burgundy. This is the only species of this genus that grows in Russia.
The body of the fungus has an irregular shape. Truffle grows in the form of a large tuber. The diameter of the body can be 3-10 cm. The surface of the tuber is uneven, tuberous. Large warts are located on it. The color of the mushroom is black. Sometimes it can have a brown tint.
Young mushrooms have a dense pulp, but later it begins to gradually become loose. First, it has a yellow or gray tint, and then brown. Streaks that look like a marble pattern are clearly visible on the cut. The taste is very appreciated by gourmets. It is sweetish, has a slight smack of walnut, a pleasant bright aroma that looks like the smell of algae or forest.
Where and when it grows
Fruiting occurs throughout the summer. It ends in early autumn. It is for this reason that the species is called. But in some regions, this period begins only in July and can last until late autumn.
It grows in the ground. Favorite places are deciduous forests. But it often grows in mixed ones. Depth may vary. As a rule, it is 4-15 cm. But sometimes it can grow at a depth of 30 cm. They are located in groups or one at a time. Sometimes an old truffle can rise to the surface. In the coniferous forest they can also be found, but this happens extremely rarely. They can be seen near oak, hornbeam, sometimes near birch. With these trees they form mycorrhiza.
Often, midges can circulate above the surface of the soil where the truffle lies. It is on this basis that it is sometimes possible to find a mushroom.
This species grows not only in Russia, but also in the southern part of Scandinavia, as well as in the center of Europe. Quite a lot of summer truffles are found on the territory of Crimea. Here they grow throughout the territory. It is extremely rare in some regions. For example, in the Tula and Belgorod regions. Back in the 19th century, in the Podolsk province, locals collected this mushroom for sale. Dogs often help a person in assembly. For this, representatives of such breeds as the dachshund, as well as the Yorkshire Terrier, are used.
Similar views
This species is very similar to the Perigord truffle, which is rightfully considered one of the most valuable delicacies in the world. The difference between them is only in the fact that the flesh of the perigorsk mushroom darkens over time and acquires a brown color with a purple hue.
How to cook
Summer truffle is not just edible. It belongs to expensive delicacies and is very appreciated by gourmets. But other types of truffles are even more valuable compared to it. First, the fruit body is washed with a brush well from all contaminants. This product, as a rule, is an addition to dishes with a mild odor. It is added to meat and vegetables.
High temperatures do not process it.Summer truffle is cut into thin plates or even shavings, and then laid out on a freshly prepared hot dish. They warm up, after which they add flavor to the dish.
Any feast will be exquisite if it is attended by these delicious mushrooms. But the problem is that finding them is very difficult. Sometimes people go after them even to another region in order to collect this rare delicacy for themselves. About whether he is really so special can only be said after you try it.
Growing
Many people wonder about the possibility of self-cultivation. How can this be done, and in what conditions? In the wild, truffles are distributed thanks to the forest fauna. Animals find the truffle and eat it. Then the spores of the fungus leave their body along with feces. If the spores get to the roots of the tree, they will begin to develop, since they usually form a symbiosis with them.
In Europe and China, enterprising businessmen are engaged in self-cultivation of truffles. The technology has been known for a long time. But it’s impossible to grow white truffle on your own.
To grow this mushroom, you must create the necessary conditions for it. It is necessary that the area has suitable soil, weather, as well as trees.
Modern farmers grow special oak groves. To do this, acorns are taken from the oak, under which the truffle was found.
How to search
Finding these mushrooms is a complex process. Those who do this have a lot of tricks in their arsenal. It is known that the place where this mushroom grows has a somewhat stunted vegetation, and the soil surface has a grayish tint.
As a rule, the body of the fungus is in the ground. Seeing it on the surface is great luck. But, if you saw several tubercles, they should be unearthed. Perhaps this is a group of truffles. Real professionals among mushroom pickers look for such places by tapping a stick on the ground. But this requires a lot of experience. You can also determine the place by the accumulation of midges above the ground.
Video: Russian Truffle
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