Truffle hunting

[Bolebroke]

Does anybody do it ? Successfully ideally ! I live in an area where there are apparently truffles..and I appreciate nobody is going to take me to their best spot and lend me a spade...but does anybody do it themselves..? What's the best way of starting..?

[Mobile Chicane]

Obviously the best way is to train a dog to sniff for them. The lagotto romagnolo is what's used in Italy. These are lovely dogs of themselves, and if I could possibly have a dog, it would be this one.

But, all is not lost. 'Apparently' the scent of truffles attracts flies. So, if you're in beechwoods on chalky soil, and see flies dancing over a particular spot at the base of a tree, dig there. It will either be Dogturdius anciens, or a truffle.

[Oscarmac]

I watched a James Martin programme the other day, I'm pretty sure it was a repeat. He went truffle hunting with a lady who trains dogs to recognise the smell. The programme was something like best of Britain ( British).

Interesting programme and magnificent looking chicken, mushroom and truffle dish to finish with.

[Bolebroke]

Excellent info ! I shall have a look at a geological map of west dorset and get to the chalklands..ideally wooded ones...we had one of those Italian dogs wander over to a dinner in a Beaune Chateau last year..owner shooed it away. We said don't worry ..we love dogs..not every englishman is worried about H&S in a dining room...owner said he couldn't care less about H&S in dining room...just didn't want us feeding his chien in case it messed up his hooter..

[magooagain]

Search near young Oak trees.

[Puggit]

I've also heard about the dancing flies. Apparently above the roots, close in to the tree - best time in the evening when the light is sideways.

Shameless plug for a book written by a friend of my wife: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Discovering-Great-British-... I can probably get signed copies, but sadly no discount for various reasons.

[anonymous-user]

Get yourself a pig. Apparently truffles smell like a pig's porky bits, so they can root them out with ease!

[tog]

Nyphur said:

Get yourself a pig. Apparently truffles smell like a pig's porky bits, so they can root them out with ease!

Surely a pig is nothing but porky bits!

My brother runs a business supplying Wiltshire truffles to top restaurants, and uses a dog to help him find them. I'd recommend finding someone who can help you to start with, as having been out hunting with him, unless you know exactly what you're looking for they are very hard to spot.

[Mobile Chicane]

Nyphur said:

Get yourself a pig. Apparently truffles smell like a pig's porky bits, so they can root them out with ease!

Pigs were historically used for truffle hunting, however they have their drawbacks since they can't be 'called off' once they scent a truffle.

Dogs are less inclined to eat them.

[Bolebroke]

Thanks for all the feedback and guidance..sounds like I'm going to have to find a pig, a dog and a man who likes wandering around fly-infested chalky woods with strangers..and also wants to give me all the truffles "we" find..

[Puggit]

If I can get the author of the above mentioned book interested - who would be up for a truffle hunt? Couple of hours wondering around the woods followed by a pub!

She lives in Basingstoke, so likely to be around that area...

[Mobile Chicane]

I'd love to - although I doubt very much she'd give away her secret location.

[jinkster]

How about planting truffles? I know nothing about them apart from Northern Italy, expensive, underground mushroom type things and taste delicious!

[drfrank]

Just back from Tuscany, alas no truffles but some truffled honey which is delicious !
For good value truffle oil try truffle hunter on amazon. Their oil is rapeseed and so the truffle flavour is not crushed by the usual olive oil !