In the country of the black diamond : |
The black truffle of Quercy or Tuber Melanosporum |
In the country of the black diamond : |
The black truffle of Quercy or Tuber Melanosporum |
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The truffle is a fungus, the underground growth of a mycellium which lives in association with a tree, on its roots. Of all the species of truffle which exist only the noble kind, the black winter truffle or the black truffle of Quercy is of any gastronomic interest. Its botanic name is tuber melanosporum. The host tree, which is most frequently a pubescent oak ( but which might be a holm-oak - quercus ilex- or a hazel ) is distinguished by the presence of a circle of several metres around the trunk without plant growth-said to be "burnt"- which is the result of the herbicide effect ot the mycellium. The truffle is born in the soil in May/June at a depth of 10-40cm… |
| …it develops during the summer months thanks to the heavy showers ( particularly those of August ) and begins to mature at the onset of Autumn. With the aid of the flair of a specially trained dog, or ( nowadays more rare than in the past ) of a pig it is the characteristic perfume given off by the truffle which enables it to be gathered in winter. ( December to February ) The annual production of truffles from the Lot varies according to the year from 3 to 10 tonnes.
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| The truffle market of Lalbenque is the most important in the south-west. |
| It takes place every Tuesday during the winter months. |
| A gastronomic visit is a must ! |
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