The scams

The truffle… our black diamond.

Well it's true, truffles are not exclusively present here but it is not only in Sarlat or in Périgord that we find this precious jewel.

Black truffle or white truffle we all love them… But do you really know what this coveted nugget is?

First of all, the truffle is none other than the product of a champignon. You will most often find it under the name black truffle or Périgord truffle and more occasionally with “Rabasse” and for connoisseurs “melanosporum truffle”.

How does truffle grow?

You should know that the truffle is inseparable from the tree that hosts it. It is called a “feeder tree” since the fungus feeds on small filaments connected to the roots of the tree. You can find them under oaks, hazelnut trees, lime trees and even hornbeams.

In all cases, the truffle only develops in calcareous soils, at a depth of 1 to 15 cm. It begins to develop in spring and then grows from mid-August. The digging can then begin: the truffle is harvested using a truffle dog, a pig or flies in most cases. Around Brive, truffles are harvested in Yssandonnais (limestone plateau located at an altitude of 300 meters) and on the Causse Corrézien.

Truffle hunting is open from the beginning of December to the end of February.

Choosing the right truffles:

The scent of the truffle should be pleasant. It should not be too soft or too dry. You can check its color by cutting it slightly. If you see fine white veins, jackpot! Otherwise, move on, the nose has frozen, it has lost water and the veins have disappeared.

Where to find/buy truffle?

The most patient will go into the woods in search of a truffle tree, as for the others several markets and fairs are at their disposal.
The Cuzance truffle fair and the Lalbenque market remain references but we also have some much closer events such as the Chartrier Ferrière truffle market which takes place at the beginning of February or the controlled truffle market from Brive la Gaillarde every Saturday during the holiday period Foires aux Gras (Georges Brassens Hall). You can also find truffle in finished products at Clément's counter under the Halle Gaillarde in Brive (ham with truffles and other specialties will delight even the most gourmands)!

We come to the annoying question…

What is the price of truffles?

It can be found around €1 per kg. Beware of scams, if you see relatively low prices, ask yourself where it comes from.

There is a more accessible variety of truffle: the summer truffle. It is harvested from April to early August. It remains less fragrant than its cousin the black truffle, which also explains its lower price: around €300 per kilo.

You want to know more ?

Go visit the truffle farm in Cuzance. Delphine Vigne will welcome you to her truffle garden. You will attend a digging demonstration with Rosabelle, their truffle dog. The visit will end with a tasting. Pouzols 46600 CUZANCE. More information: 05 65 37 82 57 and 06 89 97 84 39