French farmers managed to grow white truffle outside of their natural habitat, expecting white diamond orchards in Europe

In a global first that could herald the development of white truffle cultivation in the continent, they’ve managed to grow the ultimate treat for the gourmet gastronome outside of their natural habitat. The Italian white truffle (Tuber magnatum pico) grows in forests in Italy and in the Balkan peninsula. Found in the soil around the roots of oak, hornbeam, poplar and willow trees and invisible to the naked eye, truffle hunters use dogs and pigs to sniff them out. Famed for their pungent, earthy aroma that is both unique and unforgettable, these ‘white diamonds’ are the rarest and most expensive of the 180 varieties of truffle. They sell for between €1500 and €3000 per kilo. But supply frequently does not meet the strong global demand and prices can reach as much as €50,000 per kilo during auction season. Truffle production meanwhile has been falling due to changing land use and loss of wild habitat. Its annual production is only a few tens of tonnes. In an effort to stem this ...