Truffle hunting with dog sleuths

At the entrance to the truffle grove we make acquaintance with the truffle hunters and their dogs: Asia (already an experienced truffle sleuth) and Sandy (the somewhat clumsy apprentice).

A few introductory explanations about truffle hunting and off we go. The dogs are let off the leash and chase away so fast that we can hardly follow them.

After less than hundred meters Asia already begins digging violently and Giovanni, her "Padrone", has trouble to hold her back. Dogs usually do not eat the truffles as would do the truffle pigs. For that reason pigs are hardly used anymore nowadays. But a truffle is easily damaged, either by the dog's teeth or paws, and then it is only worth a fraction of the value of awhole, undamaged truffle.

Giovanni has a special instrument for digging out the truffles, the "Vanghina", a short, very narrow truffle spade. He   asks who wants to dig up the truffle. One of our ladies uncovers the truffle carefully under Giovanni's guidance and then hands it around proudly to the other participants. It is dirty and unimpressive but yet has the distinctive scent of truffles and of course each of us must take a deep sniff.

And so it goes on merrily, truffle after truffle is found and dug out while Saverio gives us more explanations about truffles and truffle hunting.

Rich booty

After about an hour we have our little bag nearly full: 360 grams, as it turns out later on the scale.

Depending on the season and the climate there are different varieties of truffles to be found: the black summer truffle, the black winter truffle, the white spring truffle or the particularly precious white winter truffle. Ultimately, it depends very much on the vagaries of the weather and the fine noses of the dogs how many truffles are found.

After the truffle hunt we all go to visit Saverio's small but fine truffle product manufacture Tartufi Bianconi close to Città di Castello, where the truffle is processed.

But before that Saverio still wants to show us his home town Citerna. First we have a coffee in the bar with the large panoramic terrace, then he proudly leads us through the newly restored streets and into the underground cisterns, which gave their name to the village. The historical sight is very impressive, and every year more underground cisterns and wells are being unearthed.

Truffle Feasts

At the Bianconi Tartufi factory we are told how the truffles are processed and preserved. In the small truffle museum we can find everything worth knowing about truffles and truffle hunting and many oddities. 

In the meantime Saverio's wife Gabriella has prepared the truffle tasting. Actually "tasting" is a gross understatement. Gabriella has used the morning to prepare a veritable multi-course lunch with various truffle products.

Eating like at a friend's house

Would you like to taste truffles and other delicacies?