A black truffle weighing 1.79 kilograms was found last weekend by Italian truffle dog Pepe at the source of the Tiber in central Italy’s Umbria region. The prized tuber was the largest discovered by 79-year-old truffle collector Romolo Lazzari in more than 50 years of hunting for this delicacy.
“I’ve never seen anything like it in all these years. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I don’t deserve the credit, it goes to Pepe, my six-year-old truffle dog,” said Lazzari. The find was made in the woods near Città di Castello, an Umbrian town known for its museum of works by Raphael, Luca Signorelli, Andrea della Robbia, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Domenico Ghirlandaio and other artists. Lazzari thanked his dog with an extra portion of food.
Truffle hunting on UNESCO list
In December 2021, the Italian truffle hunt was inscribed on the UNESCO list of the world’s intangible cultural heritage. The Coldiretti Farmers’ Union said the award was an important step in defending a system characterized by a special relationship with nature, through a ritual rich in anthropological and cultural aspects. “It is a tradition vital to many mountainous rural areas disadvantaged from a tourist and gastronomic point of view,” said Coldiretti.
In Italy there is a network of about 73,600 truffle collectors, the so-called “Tartufai”, organized in 45 groups in a national association. The most valuable truffles are mainly found in the Piemonte region near the town of Alba, where an annual fair is held where the precious tubers are auctioned.
Black truffles cheaper than white ones
White truffles are spicier, rarer and more expensive than black truffles, which have a longer growing season and are more common in central and southern Italy. A bidder from Hong Kong paid 184,000 euros for a white truffle at an auction in Italy in November. The tuber weighed 700 grams. The truffle auction in Alba in Piemonte is considered the most exclusive of its kind.
According to experts, the prices for top quality white truffles are around 3,500 euros per kilo this year. The price per kilo for the lesser-known black truffles is therefore around 500 euros.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
