The black P rigord truffle, named for its home in the famous P rigord region of France, is a valuable delicacy used in a wide variety of cuisines around the world. The truffles grow just beneath the ground on the roots of certain trees in several regions of southern Europe. These truffles are difficult to find without a trained animal, but it's not impossible to come across a black truffle on your own if you know what to look for.
Instructions
1. Take note of when and where the truffle was discovered. Black truffles have a fairly small window for harvesting each year, between December and March. The peak opportunities for finding the black truffle occur during the coldest winter days of January and February. Black truffles are found almost exclusively in southern Europe. The truffles are most commonly in France, Italy and Spain.
2. Examine the aroma of the truffle. Black truffles have a very strong, earthy scent that will completely permeate a room. In fact, the powerful aroma is what often allows trained dogs to find the black truffles in the wild. Compared to an average mushroom, the black truffle will have a more intense aromatic presence. If the aroma is slightly unpleasant it may still be a black truffle, albeit one that has over-matured.
3. Feel and study the outer texture of the truffle. Black truffles have a rough texture and a thick, wrinkled outer skin with some smooth areas. The color of the black truffle is actually a deep dark brown to black with angular polygonal spines or warts. Cut the truffle and examine the cross-section. Look for fine, root-like patterns and compare it to a photo of the inside of a black truffle (see Resources).
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