White Truffle
Tuber magnatumGuide to prized white truffle in Italy: where Tuber magnatum is found, season and habitat. Piedmont, Tuscany, Marche and Umbria with map.
The prized white truffle (Tuber magnatum) is Italy's most valuable gastronomic product. It grows in symbiosis with willow, poplar, pedunculate oak and hazel along watercourses and in riparian forests with clay soil and constant humidity. The Langhe hills of Piedmont (Alba) and the San Miniato area of Tuscany are the two main producers, but white truffle is found — with lesser intensity — throughout north-central Italy where soil conditions are favourable.
Habitat
Riparian forests of willow, poplar and pedunculate oak along watercourses. Clay soil with constant good humidity, partially shaded. Does not survive in compact calcareous soils.
How to identify white truffle
- Smooth or slightly irregular surface, ochre-whitish colour
- Cream interior with white veins — compact cross-section
- Intensely distinctive aroma, sweet-musky
- Hypogeous growth (underground) — requires trained dog
Where to look in Italy
Frequently asked questions about white truffle
- Where is white truffle found in Italy?
- The main areas are the Langhe hills of Piedmont (Alba, Mango), the San Miniato area of Tuscany, Acqualagna in the Marche and some areas of Umbria and Abruzzo. It requires humid clay soils, typically along watercourses.
- When is white truffle season?
- The official season is October–January in almost all producing regions. The peak is November–December, when the aroma is at its maximum and the commercial price is highest.