Truffle - White - host Pinus pinea

The Bianchetto or little white truffle is from Tuscany. Truffles have a pungent aroma that can be loosely described as of fresh earth and sweet mushrooms. Throughout history people have constantly failed to adequately describe the aroma and flavour of a premium truffle, contributing to the mystique of this exotic fungi. Their taste can permeate and enhance many foods such as soups, dips and pates, salads, sauces, dressings, omelettes and main meals. The irresistible allure of their unique aroma, flavour and taste accounts for their gourmet status, and demand by consumers, and makes them a highly valued ingredient. The host tree is the hazelnut, or Corylus avellana which produces the delicious nuts, they are inoculated with truffle mycorrhiza. In Europe, truffles thrive in nutrient poor, calcareous (lime) soils and a temperate climate. Therefore to establish a truffiare in Australia you will require an area with a similar climate, including rainfall & winter frosts, sufficient available water for drought proofing, and apply a great deal of lime to replicate the European soil types. They need cold winter temperatures with a few frosts. Hot summer temperatures for initiating truffle formation. Free draining soils, suitable for altering with lime. Sufficient rainfall or irrigation water.