Black and white Italian truffles are wild mushrooms that grow underground, and they are one of the most expensive ingredients in Italian cooking. In this buying guide I explain the types of truffle, their seasons and prices, and how I read the label of a truffle cream or oil.
We didn't have truffles at home when I was a child, as my mother never liked them.
I discovered them in Spoleto in the early 80s, in my teenage years, when I went with a friend who had a second home there during the autumn.
In that season the entire town turns into a truffle delight, and everything from omelettes to pasta is sold with truffle.
Spoleto is in Umbria, where the black truffle grows together with the more famous white truffle of Alba in Piedmont.
Since then I have learned that a real truffle and a truffle flavor are two very different things.
This guide is what I check before I spend my money.
What is a truffle
A truffle is a wild mushroom that grows underground, next to the roots of trees.
Its taste is very special, and either you love it or you hate it.
The flavor is hearty and nutty, and it can be more or less intense depending on the variety.
In Italy we call it tartufo.
Each type has its own season, its own area and its own price, so it is worth knowing them before you buy.
The types of Italian truffles and their seasons
There are four types of truffle you will find in Italy. The seasons below are the harvest periods set by the Italian law on truffles, and each region can move them slightly.
| Truffle | Latin name | Season | Where | What it is like |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black truffle (tartufo nero pregiato) | Tuber melanosporum | 15 November to 15 March | Norcia and Spoleto in Umbria, Périgord in France | Black and wrinkled outside, blackish purple inside with a white grain |
| Summer truffle (tartufo estivo, scorzone) | Tuber aestivum | 1 May to 30 November | Across Italy | Black outside like the black truffle, light brown inside, less valuable |
| Bianchetto or marzuolo | Tuber borchii | 15 January to 30 April | Central Italy | Looks like the white truffle but becomes darker when mature; slightly garlicky taste |
| White truffle of Alba (tartufo bianco) | Tuber magnatum | 1 October to 31 December | Alba in Piedmont | Small, with a silky white to yellowish skin and a very distinctive aroma; the most refined and expensive |
The summer truffle is the one I used in my black truffle pasta, as it is the most accessible.
To know more about the region of the white truffle, you can read my article on Piedmont and Val d'Aosta cuisine.
Why are truffles so expensive?
Truffles are expensive because they are hard to find, and the most precious one still cannot be farmed.
Black truffles and summer truffles have been cultivated in truffle orchards for more than 50 years, and today most of the black truffles sold come from plantations in France, Italy and Spain.
The white truffle from Alba is different, as it is still found almost only in the wild.
The first white truffles grown in an orchard were harvested in France only in 2019, in a research project.
Because they grow under the ground, wild truffles are challenging to find.
Searching for truffles is very specialized and requires lengthy training and high investment.
Particular dog breeds with an acute sense of smell are trained to sniff and find the truffles from a distance.
Only expert truffle hunters can succeed in their quest to find them.
How much do truffles cost?
Truffles are costly, especially white truffles.
In the 2025 season, white truffles from Alba cost on average between €2,300 and €4,000 per kilo depending on their size, which is roughly $1,200 to $2,100 per pound.
The rare large ones cost even more, and at the Alba charity auction in November 2025 a white truffle of just over one kilo sold for €110,000.
The price changes every season with the weather, as a dry summer means fewer truffles.
However, as other alternatives exist, you don't have to break the bank to cook with truffles.
Black truffles and summer truffles are less expensive and still give you the real flavor.
How to buy truffle products: oil, butter, salt and cream
You can also find black truffle oil, white truffle oil, truffle salt, black truffle butter, or cream with truffle flavor.
However, there are a lot of synthetic truffle flavors which are not at the level of real truffles.
It is, therefore, essential to read the labels and buy only a proper brand.
How to read the label
I read the ingredient list, not the front of the jar.
A real truffle product lists the truffle among its ingredients, with its name and its percentage, for example Tuber melanosporum 5%.
In Italy the law asks preserved truffles to carry the Latin and the Italian name of the species, which is why you often see the Latin name on Italian jars.
If the list says only "aroma" or "truffle flavoring", the taste comes from a flavoring, often made in a laboratory.
Only a "natural truffle flavoring" has to come from truffles.
This is the same rule I follow for my whole pantry. I read the label and I choose the simplest and least processed product.
The truffle cream I buy
I personally like Valnerina Tartufi, and I want to specify that I have not been sponsored nor offered products to mention their brand.
It is a small producer based in Umbria, an Italian region renowned for its truffles.
My favorite is white truffle mixed with wild porcini mushrooms. I use it in my creamy truffle gnocchi.
Wherever you live, you might find different brands of truffle creams, and I recommend buying a small jar and trying it.
I have often been disappointed, so don't take it for granted.
And if you have a brand you tried and liked, please leave a comment below so we can all share our knowledge and experience.
What to pair with truffle
In Spoleto I saw that truffle was always served with ingredients with a mild or complementary flavor, like eggs, potatoes, pasta, rice, Parmigiano or any mild cheese, and cooked ham, while now they add it everywhere.
I still follow what I saw in Spoleto, because a strong ingredient covers the aroma of the truffle you paid for. These are the best companions:
- Parmigiano Reggiano, or a mild cheese like Taleggio or Brie
- Butter
- Eggs, in an omelette or a baked frittata
- Fresh pasta, like tagliatelle
- Potatoes and gnocchi
- Rice, in a risotto
- Cooked ham
How to use and keep fresh truffle
To clean a fresh truffle, I immerse it in lukewarm water and brush off the dirt with a vegetable brush. You can see the full method in my black truffle pasta.
I cook truffle at low or medium heat with butter to release its flavor, and I always add some freshly shaved raw truffle to the final dish.
I was never successful in keeping the flavor of fresh truffles for long, no matter how I stored them. It is best to use them immediately.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between black and white truffles?
The white truffle of Alba (Tuber magnatum) is the most refined and expensive, with a very distinctive aroma, and it is found almost only in the wild. The black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) has an earthy, nutty flavor, is cultivated in truffle orchards, and costs much less.
When is truffle season in Italy?
The Italian law on truffles sets the harvest season of the white truffle of Alba from 1 October to 31 December, the black truffle from 15 November to 15 March, the bianchetto from 15 January to 30 April, and the summer truffle from 1 May to 30 November. Each region can move these dates slightly.
Can truffles be cultivated?
Black truffles and summer truffles are cultivated in truffle orchards. The white truffle of Alba is still found almost only in the wild, and the first ones grown in an orchard were harvested in France in 2019, in a research project.
Is truffle oil made with real truffles?
Many truffle oils are not made with real truffles, as they are flavored with a synthetic aroma. Read the ingredient list, and look for the truffle with its name and percentage, or for "natural truffle flavoring".
How do I know if a truffle product is real?
A real truffle product lists the truffle among the ingredients with its Latin name and its percentage. If the label says only "aroma" or "truffle flavoring", the taste comes from a flavoring.
What goes well with truffle?
Ingredients with a mild or complementary flavor, like eggs, potatoes, pasta, rice, butter, Parmigiano or a mild cheese, and cooked ham.
How long does fresh truffle keep?
Fresh truffle does not keep for long. I was never successful in keeping the flavor of fresh truffles, no matter how I stored them, so I use them immediately.
Recipes with truffle
Leave a Reply