Black truffles grow well in Spain. The middle Teruel region and the northeastern Girona forest are where most of the production takes place. Spain is the world’s largest producer of Tuber melanosporum, in addition to the country’s richness of these aromatic treasures (black winter truffles).
Tuber melanosporum, also referred to as “black gold” or “black diamonds,” are highly prized by chefs everywhere. Although they also grow in France and Italy, Spain is the world’s top producer of black truffles.
The black summer truffle, Tuber aestivum, is also grown in Spain. Truffles can be farmed, even though they are often grown and collected in the wild; nevertheless, this is not an easy operation. This elusive fungus grows so well on Spanish soil, so why is that?
Black Truffles – What Are They?
Truffles are underground fungi that develop close to the roots of some tree species, including oak, holm oak, and hazelnut. The roots of the trees are not directly touched by the truffles, but they are connected to them by a vast network of mycelium, which is a root-like web of fungus strands that extends for kilometers under the earth. Sharing nutrients and water, trees and truffles have a symbiotic relationship.
The fruit of this mycelium network, truffles, are located around 20 centimeters beneath. Because of this, dogs with keen senses of smell are employed to locate and remove them from the ground.
Since ancient times, black and white truffles have been revered for their culinary benefits. Truffles come in a variety of kinds, but not all of them are edible, and some are more valuable than others.
What Makes Black Truffles Unique?
According to Sofia Agustin of Manjares de la Tierra, a business in Sarrión, Teruel, “truffles are flavor enhancers like no other, they have brought to the world of cooking limitless new flavors that otherwise would have never been.”
“Truffles have a flavor so unique that nothing else can be compared to it. She goes on to say that they can have over 48 different subtleties, including butter, caramel, wood, damp earth, hay, and ground coffee.
November through April in Sarrión is the prime black winter truffle season. Chefs adore the black winter truffle’s distinctive, earthy aroma, which is more delicate than the flavor of white truffles. Both raw and cooked sauces can be made with tuberous melanosporum.
Black summer truffles are available from May to September, as the name implies. They are less scarce than their winter-season brother and have a more delicate aroma, making them the perfect truffle for beginners. They grow naturally in the Catalonian and Guadalajaran provinces of Spain.
Where Can You Find Black Truffles in Spain?
The hub of Spain’s black winter truffle industry is the northeastern area of Aragon. Here, around 60% of the nation’s black truffles are farmed. Teruel, a mountainous province with high elevation, grows the bulk of the world’s truffles, followed by Huesca and Zaragoza in terms of production. However, growing black truffles is more difficult than growing other fungi.
Farmers must endure up to 10 years of no benefit or harvest from the first inoculated trees planted until the first grown truffles, according to Agustin.
However, the lengthy wait is only half the struggle because the truffle fields must adhere to tight guidelines. The ecology can be managed as the fields “simulate the natural conditions of the forest,” according to Agustin. For instance, “we accomplish an equitable distribution of water that replicates fine rain when needed” utilizing micro-spraying irrigation devices,” she added. Teruel is the perfect location for truffles because of the city’s great climate and temperature.
“We have the perfect climate here, 900 to 1,200 meters above sea level, and we are shielded from severe winds by being situated between two mountains. As a result, our limestone fields are ideal for the truffle to securely develop, according to Augustin.
Black truffles can be discovered in the Girona forest in Catalonia, where they are hunted and sold by locals from November to March. Agustin shows that while expensive truffle hunting hounds are bought and sold, there are other factors to consider.
“It is not as pertinent as some people think. They must have a keen sense of smell and an aptitude for learning; a bulldog, for instance, wouldn’t make a suitable employee because of their poor sense of smell. However, a stray dog with a keen nose and an eagerness to learn can end up being your constant companion.
Black Truffle Festival in Abejar
Other eastern regions like Catalonia and Castile-León contain the remaining 40% of Spain’s truffle production. To experience some of the truffles the region has to offer, travel to the province of Soria in north-central Spain.
Every February, the municipality of Abejar hosts the yearly Black Truffle Festival, which honors all things truffle. Pedro Marco Montori, the director of research at the Center for Research and Agrifood Technology of Aragon (CITA), advises consumers to anticipate markets, workshops, and neighborhood eateries offering unique truffle menus.
When a truffle is living or breathing, it emits compounds that can be used to flavor other dishes, according to the expert.
Great chefs offer diners full truffle dinners with just a few grams of truffle because they are aware of this secret.
