The Dordogne is one of the regions of France where they are offered with a special and quality selection, whatever a visitor wants! But what attracted us this time to visit this part of Farncas southwest is a mushroom variety considered 'holy' for French households. It is about Black truffle that grows in the Perigord area from December to March. They characterize a delicious chocolate flavor, with a peak in January and February. Like other varieties of fungi, the black Perigord truffle grows beneath the surface of the soil between the roots of the particular species of trees and develops into a symbiotic relationship with those trees, which are mainly made of oak, but also beech, hazelnut, chestnut , and poplar. Unlike White truffle (Alba), this Perigord is the most desirable and with a higher price than other types of fungi. Within the last 100 years, the production of these tubers has an almost unmatched flavor with others to the increase in demand and price respectively remains justified.
Their cultivation is done among the forests of the Perigord region and the way of finding them is very traditional, carried out with hunters such as pigs and trained dogs. The largest truffle market in southwestern France is located in Lalbenque, not far from Perigord. Perigord is one of the most popular cities in the Dordogne and has been described as the center of the 100-year war (in the 14th to 14th centuries) between France and England. It is also the site of 1001 Medieval and Renaissance castles, among which we can mention Puymartin Losse and Hautefort located mainly along the Dordogne and Vézère rivers.
The entire Dordogne region of Perigord is almost untouched by a region where you can easily meet wildlife but where you can get acquainted with a thousand-year history thanks to architectural wealth. The Dordogne is known for its fantastic cuisine, which is especially known for its products in relation to ducks and unscrupulous geese and mushrooms, the tubers of which are impossible to find at any step of the Dordogne fields. Black truffles has turned the last few years into a deluxe 'assortment' of international cuisines. 1 kilogram if sold directly by farmers costs 1000 euros while in retail markets the price of one kilogram is up to 4000 euros.
The name Tartuf is of Latin origin, from the word "Tuber", which means "lump" or tuber because of the extraordinary similarity with mushroom tubers. Black truffle production is almost entirely exclusive to Europe, and France is the one that leads with the highest percentage of overall production around 45%. France counts the collection of nearly 30 tonnes per year. At the end of the nineteenth century the output was over 1,000 tons of 'French' cakes of French gourmet use every black truffle variety, truffle oil, wine, vodkan and even cocktails with its wonderful aroma. For the latter, tastes do not spare to try it even though the pocket should be well-packed. Not in vain the Dordogne farmers, these last few years are doing the utmost to invent 'special formulas' for the cultivation of this black diamond found in the roots of trees! And who said "money does not grow on the tree" !!!! It certainly did not hear about Tartuf
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