We are continually perfecting our importing process, which must be perfectly reliable due to the high cost of any spoilage we incur. We have brought in a number of shipments and would be pleased to provide fresh truffles of a very high quality with dependable freshness and authenticity.
Truffle harvesting seasons for what we can generally supply are:
|
Perigord Blacks
Italian Whites
Burgundy
Winter Black
Smooth Black
Bagnoli Truffle
Chinese Truffle
Oregon Blacks
Oregon Spring White
Oregon Fall White
Pecan Truffle
|
1 Dec through 31 Mar
1 Oct through 31 Dec
1 May through 31 Dec
1 Dec – 15 Mar
1 Sept – 31 Dec
1 Sept – 31 Jan
1 Dec – 31 Mar
1 Sept – 1 Feb
1 Jan – 1 June
1 Oct – 1 Jan
Year Round |
We do our best to avoid illicit harvesting and trade and so availability will be determined by the above dates for truffles of EU and US origin. Locally produced (ie Canadian) truffles, when available, will be available at similar times. There is some variation to the above seasons due to the emergence of supplies from the southern hemisphere, - Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania.
As to flavour, each of the above has a distinctive flavour and/or aftertaste. For example, the Oregon black carries a hint of pineapple and thus is favored for deserts such as cream cheese, whipped cream and ice cream. Others such as the Perigord Black and Italian white are known for their intense, savory, musky, garlicky flavour.
As to cost, it can change dramatically from day to day according to availability and quality of the supply. Prices for fresh Perigord Black truffles at the end of February 2008 were in the range of C$2400.00 / kg. and prices for Italian Whites were much, much higher, due to a drought in the region last summer. Recently, articles have been published anticipating further decline in European quality and production levels, and problems with inferior species being sold as expensive ones.