Truffles by Peter Kenton

Many people think of a truffle as a little chocolate candy thing. Many people don't even know that a truffle is also an edible fungus. These Fungi are extremely hard to come by, and are in many countries such as Italy considered a rare delicacy.

What is a truffle?

A truffle is an oddly shaped fungi that looks like little potatoes. Some truffles are black and some are a tanish color. Truffles cost in excess of 40$ per ounce and possibly close to 500$ for a whole mushroom. This is why only the very rich, or the very lucky can afford. The reason for their high cost is the difficulties of the growing process. Truffles have to be grown in soil that has a high concentration of fertilizer (poo). Also, truffles are very delicate plants. If a one acre field is planted, maybe 20% of the mushrooms planted will be eaten, and only 10% will make it to the market without having died in the process. Another reason why truffles so hard to grow is because of the climate they require. They require a very hot climate to grow in. Any cold weather could prove fatal for the mushrooms, which is why Italy is the ideal place to grow truffles and is also why 90% of all truffles sold in the world are grown in Italy.

Many people such as myself, like the bitterness of truffles, but some find truffles gross. Probably why they are so rare, is because only a certain amount of people even like truffles, and a very small percentage of those people can even afford a truffle. Many people would say, 'Who would spend 40$ on a tiny bite of food that you might not even like.' If you buy a truffle and end up not liking it, you might have felt you just threw away 40$. But for some trying a truffle whether they end up liking it or not, feel is a great privilege to be able to eat such a rare food.