TruffleTruffle is a mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate chapter is dedicated to it... - this is the mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate chapter is dedicated to him in the book “Physiology of Taste,” which was written by the French culinary specialist Jean-Anselm Brillat-Savarin in 1825. In it, the culinary specialist described experiments carried out with a mushroom, which he called “white diamond.” The cook was able to prove that the tuber has properties that stimulate sexual desire.
Having studied the soil requirements and planting technology of the exquisite truffle mushroom, Truffle is the mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate chapter is dedicated to it... the owner will be able to receive a consistently high income for several decades, since properly prepared soil and high-quality mycelium will provide an impressive result. Sell products to restaurants and stores - get the desired profit and succeed in this business!
The famous and aristocratic truffleTruffle is a mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate chapter is dedicated to it... it has very little in common with the well-known dessert, but is considered an equally delicious delicacy all over the world. Chocolate or curd dessert is called truffleTruffle is a mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate eye is dedicated to it… due to its shape similar to the fruiting body of an underground mushroom. TruffleTruffle is a mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate chapter is dedicated to it... - this is an entire taxonomic group, genus (that is, a systematic association of species of similar origin).
A little about the truffle family
Of course, with truffles Truffle is the mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate chapter is dedicated to it... they name not only species. A species is an evolutionarily established set of individuals, characterized by a single..., belonging to this genus, but also some others, morphologically (in shape and structure), resembling them. So-called “true truffles” are much more valuable than “truffle-like” ones, but they are very similar in terms of the growing conditions required. These mushrooms are characterized by the fact that they grow underground, right between the roots of trees, and therefore belong to the category of mycorrhiza-forming ones (forming a close symbiosis of mycelium with tree roots).
The origin of these mushrooms and the number of their species is not completely known. We can say that this is a poorly studied taxonomic group in biology. The fruiting bodies of truffles are especially valuable, edible, and, most importantly, delicious. Truffles are the mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate chapter is dedicated to him...
They have a round or tuber-like shape, have a dense, fleshy or cartilaginous structure, and are covered on top with what are called “warts.” In general, appearance is an evolutionarily established set of individuals, characterized by a single... they are far from attractive, which sharply contrasts with the taste qualities of representatives of the Truffle genus. There is an opinion that you only have to try this mushroom once in order to be forever imbued with this magical aroma and wonderful taste, which have captivated people at all times.
Features of the aristocratic mushroom
Truffles are marsupial mycorrhizal fungi that are in symbiosis with the rhizomes of deciduous trees. The family has about 30 species.
Only a few of them are used in cooking:
- white Piedmontese;
- black perigord;
- Burgundy (autumn);
- musky (black);
- Russian (black summer);
- Chinese;
- Himalayan;
- winter.
In the natural environment, truffles are found in France, North Africa, Italy, Russia, and Transcaucasia. They are most often found in deciduous forests.
They are adjacent to such trees:
- oak;
- hornbeam;
- hazel;
- birch;
- elm;
- Rowan.
The shape of the mushrooms resembles a potato or a walnut. The leathery surface can be smooth, cracked, or covered with many polyhedral warts.
Depending on the variety, truffles have this color:
- black;
- chocolate;
- grey;
- white.
The pulp is usually yellow-brown, grayish or snow-white. In cross section, it has a marble porous structure, which is formed by white and red veins. Experts call them internal and external “veins.” Young specimens have a compacted texture. The size of the fruit is from 2.5 to 20 cm. Accordingly, the weight ranges from 20 to 200 g. A full-fledged truffle mycelium can bear fruit for 25-30 years, which means it can constantly bring profit.
The “precious” fruit exudes a rich, specific aroma. The taste of the mushroom is reminiscent of a mixture of carefully roasted seeds, walnuts, chocolate or a noble alcoholic drink. The most valuable for gourmets are the Perigord, Winter and Piedmontese types. Black summer truffle grows in Russia.
For 1 kg of Piedmontese white truffles on the European market they pay 8,000 €, for black Périgord truffles - a maximum of 2,150 €, and for Russian summer truffles, about 400 €.
The secret of the growth of “delicacies” has been revealed
Practice shows that it is almost impossible to find such mushrooms in the forest by chance. After all, their “home” is located at a depth of 20 to 35 cm. Therefore, experts involve animals with an excellent sense of smell. These can be specially trained dogs or pigs.
For home cultivation, it is important to have a good understanding of how black truffle grows in nature. Research by scientists has shown that its favorite place is among the rhizomes of deciduous trees. From these it receives an abundance of mineral components for its development. In gratitude, the mycelium strengthens the root system of the tree and helps absorb salt and moisture from the soil.
Physiology of taste
Even in ancient Rome, people admired the greatness of this mushroom. It was even considered healing and was used by doctors of that time to prepare remedies aimed at improving “men's health.” It was believed that he was able to give a person unimaginable strength and endurance. In the Middle Ages, there was an opinion that truffles had mystical properties and were capable of giving a person supernatural powers.
Truffle is a special delicacy. Truffle is a mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate chapter is dedicated to him... considered from the 15th century AD. It was then that Italian chefs began to use this unsightly, irregularly shaped mushroom in their dishes, which they called tartufo (“tuber”).
At the same time, French chefs from the central regions of the country began to use truffles for cooking, but they did not position it as a delicacy, but considered it simply a “filler”. Then truffles began to be collected in Russia, in the Moscow province. According to legends, some particularly cunning “miners” attracted bears to their hunt, whose teeth were first pulled out, since they found underground mushrooms much easier.
Truffles began to be grown artificially in France only in the 19th century. Then there were entire “truffle forests” in every region of the country. They were available to almost any ordinary citizen at the holiday table. At the same time, the famous chef Jean-Anselm Brillat-Savarin wrote his still popular book “The Physiology of Taste”, in which he devoted an entire chapter to the “diamond of the kitchen” - the truffle. The truffle is the mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate chapter is dedicated to it..., describing both its taste and aphrodisiac qualities.
However, the First World War, coupled with environmental deterioration, had a very bad effect on truffle cultivation. Truffle is a mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate chapter is dedicated to him... in France. And, if before the 20th century 100 tons of mushrooms per year were collected only from the territory of one region, then after the First World War the annual harvest of truffles. Truffle is the mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate chapter is dedicated to it... in the entire country it has still not exceeded 20 tons.
Growing on an industrial scale: myth and reality
Today truffleTruffle is a mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate chapter is dedicated to it... it is not grown on an industrial scale, but is obtained in natural conditions with the help of animals: truffle flies, dogs, pigs. Flies lay eggs in the ground next to the truffle. Truffle is a mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate chapter is dedicated to it..., and their larvae move towards the fruiting body of the fungus to receive nutrients and pupate. Swarms of such flies are clearly visible, which is why people have learned to find mushrooms with their help. Also, dogs and pigs who find “deposits” of mushrooms undergo special training.
Artificial cultivation of trufflesTruffles are the mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate chapter is devoted to it... how business requires a lot of money, effort and energy, if only because they require a special soil composition. In addition, for the first year the truffleTruffle is the mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate chapter is dedicated to him... never bears fruit. However, according to experts, such a business allows you to receive consistently high earnings, but also requires high costs.
People who were engaged in such a painstaking task as growing truffles. Truffles are the mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate chapter is devoted to it... they say that it takes an average of six years for the fruiting bodies to fully mature. Without a doubt, this is a fairly impressive period of waiting time for payback. However, it is argued that the game is worth the candle. The soil produces a harvest for 30-35 years on average.
A plantation with an area of 1 hectare produces about 15-20 kilograms of truffles. Truffles are the mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate chapter is dedicated to him... Their cost will be about 500-600 dollars. Restaurants can serve as a distribution channel, the owners of which will quickly sell out the products, even those grown in artificial conditions. The most progressive economists also advise creating an online store or posting information about sales on online auction sites - this will allow truffles to be sold faster and more efficiently not only to restaurants, but also to gourmets who want to prepare gourmet dishes with an amazing delicacy in their kitchen.
There are two possibilities for cultivating truffles. Truffles are the mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate chapter is devoted to it...: at home, that is, in an open area, or in a closed area - in a greenhouse.
Sales market
Freshly picked truffles are the most expensive. They are ideal for preparing various dishes throughout the day.
You can store the mushroom in the refrigerator for a week. Another storage method is to place the mushroom in sand, increasing its shelf life to one and a half months. Truffles can also be preserved in a special way. In any case, you should take the search for distribution channels seriously and think through them in advance.
The main distribution channel for truffles is elite restaurants, whose clients understand this delicacy.
Truffles are added to dishes with weak aromas; they are added very little - 10 g per serving. The aroma of truffle gives the dish an unusual aftertaste, which gourmets appreciate.
You can create an online store that will be a good help in selling mushrooms, and also advertise your products using online services (bulletin boards, social networks, special auctions, etc.).
In addition to cooking, truffles are used in cosmetology. The mushroom has a beneficial effect on the skin; its extract is added to creams and masks. Cosmetics manufacturers can become an additional sales channel for their products.
Growing truffles in garden beds
To begin with, a territory is selected that meets all the requirements of fastidious mushrooms. Tree seedlings are infected with mycelium and then planted in the ground at an average distance from each other. Trees are planted in soil specially prepared for this purpose.
One tree is planted in a 4x4 meter square. At the same time, there should not be more than 500 trees on one hectare of land. Fertilize the soil long before planting, since the mycelium can be damaged by fertilizers.
On each square of land, holes are dug into which water is poured, then a tree is placed. After this, the hole is filled with soil and watered. The planting depth should be at least 70 centimeters, which helps keep the mycelium unharmed when temperatures change and protects it from pests.
Algorithm for growing truffles
- Loosen the soil.
- Apply fertilizers a season or two before planting, or not apply them at all.
- Divide the soil into 4x4 meter square sectors.
- Pick up a tree seedling. Both oak (holm or pedunculate), and spruce, pine, fir, hazel, flax or sequoia may be suitable.
- When purchasing mushroom mycelium, experts recommend choosing French black truffle for growing with a seedling. Truffle is a mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate chapter is dedicated to him...
- Infect seedlings with mycelium.
- Dig at least 70 cm holes for seedlings.
- Fill the holes with water.
- Plant a seedling with mycelium in the hole.
- Cover with soil.
- Carry out mulching (lay at least 40 centimeters of soil with the remains of dry leaves).
- Cover the area within a meter radius of the tree with polyethylene.
- Regularly water the trees and “feed” them with NPK fertilizers.
Soil requirements
- The presence of high humus content in the soil.
- High degree of mechanical tillage.
- The soil pH should vary between 7 and 8.
- The soil should not contain any mushrooms.
- Weeds are not allowed to grow around trees.
- Growing conditions should be close to the natural conditions of a temperate continental climate.
- In the spring-summer period, the temperature should not be lower than 16 degrees Celsius and higher than 22 degrees Celsius.
- The area where planting is carried out must be relief.
White truffleTruffle is a mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate chapter is dedicated to it... it is grown in the same way as black, however, in order for it to bear fruit most quickly and efficiently, it is recommended to graft the mycelium, which costs about $10, not on oak, as is the case with black, but on a walnut tree.
The soil must also contain a lot of humus and have a high level of alkali, which can be tested with ordinary litmus paper. If acid is present, it will turn blue. This cannot be allowed. Under no circumstances should rabbits or pigs be allowed near truffle planting sites. Truffles are the mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate chapter is devoted to it... - they are considered the main pests for these organisms.
Growing in artificial conditions
Artificial cultivation of trufflesTruffles are the mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate chapter is devoted to it... interests farmers all over the world. And this is no wonder: the mushroom is considered “royal”, grows in very small quantities in natural conditions, is practically not cultivated, and has a high price. A comfortable environment for the habitat and development of these fungi is an open flat area where mixed forests grow, with a temperate continental climate.
It is very important to observe all the conditions necessary for the mushroom: truffleTruffle is a mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate chapter is dedicated to him... very “capricious” and “demanding”. However, the level of development of technology and technology makes it possible to obtain a good harvest of mushrooms in areas where the climate does not correspond to the desired one. There, mushrooms are planted in basements, greenhouses, greenhouses and other enclosed spaces. At the same time, winter temperatures should not fall below zero, and summer temperatures should not rise above 22 degrees.
To grow in a greenhouse, in addition to all greenhouse equipment, you will need:
- Mushroom mycelium purchased in advance.
- Wood or sawdust.
- Soil with remains of leaves.
- Nutrient solution.
First of all, you need to prepare the soil for planting in a special way. Firstly, it needs to be loosened well. It is even recommended to sift the soil to avoid mechanical damage and “oxygen starvation” of the mushrooms. Secondly, check with indicators or instruments whether the alkali level is sufficient. Thirdly, increase the calcium and humus content. Fourthly, the soil is covered with sawdust and soil with the remains of leaves. Fifthly, the soil is saturated with nutrients.
Storage methods and periods
Truffles are consumed fresh. Collected fruiting bodies quickly lose their aroma, and therefore their value. You need to eat them as soon as possible; after 1-2 weeks the mushroom may completely deteriorate.
Rice is often used to store truffles; this grain removes excess moisture. Another way to store these mushrooms is to deep freeze them. Before this, the cleaned truffles are greased with oil, wrapped in foil and placed in vacuum packaging. In this state, mushrooms can be stored for up to six months. Before use, they are not defrosted, but grated.
Algorithm for growing truffles in a greenhouse
- Soil preparation.
- Adding a nutrient solution of water and NPK fertilizers containing calcium, boron, bromine, potassium, magnesium, etc.
- The mycelium is mixed with a small amount of soil.
- A layer of pre-purchased sawdust or crushed wood is covered with the resulting substance.
- The resulting product is left in sterile conditions for a month.
- Stable temperature and humidity of the room and soil moisture are maintained.
- Water as it dries in moderation.
- Keep away any weeds or pests.
- Use herbicides as a means of getting rid of unwanted organisms.
Truffles bear fruit underground, so their harvest is deep in the soil layer. The first harvest can be harvested a month after planting, however, this value is minimal, since it may take a year for the mycelium to fully engraft. Experts note that in the first 2-3 years the truffle harvest. Truffle is a mysterious and most delicious mushroom in the world. A separate chapter is dedicated to him... small. The highest volumes are achieved in the third, fourth, or even fifth year of their cultivation.
Landing technology
In Russia, there are 3 main methods of growing truffles - in the garden, greenhouse and basement. The first method is used exclusively in the southern regions of the country, the other 2 are used everywhere.
In open ground
When planting truffles in beds, the distance between trees is maintained according to the scheme 4 x 4 m or 4 x 5 m.
The approximate number of seedlings per 1 hectare is 480–500 units. Conditions for growth:
- air temperature at night - + 16–18°C, during the day - + 25°C;
- soil moisture - 70–80% (mulch is laid to maintain stability);
- seedling planting depth - 70 cm;
- Apply rotted manure once every 2 months - this is necessary for the partner tree;
- treat mulching materials in a weak solution of manganese, which will prevent the development of pathogens.
Immediately after transplantation, cover the seedlings with agrofibre or plastic film. Keep it this way until the air temperature stabilizes to the optimal temperature.
To the greenhouse
Tuber mushrooms prefer warmth and are afraid of frost. Build a greenhouse from polycarbonate. It is acceptable to use glass and double polyethylene.
Features of growing truffles in a greenhouse:
- do not expose to direct sunlight - they kill spores, it is better to use artificial lighting (as an option - hang dark curtains, whitewash the ceiling);
- before wintering, take care of the tightness of the greenhouse structure - drafts and cold should not penetrate inside;
- install heating devices to maintain the temperature during the day + 23–25°C, at night + 15°C;
- install a ventilation system - it maintains the level of humidity and prevents mold from forming;
- Watering is carried out by spraying - add water when a thin crust begins to form on the surface of the soil.
In the basement
To obtain a decent harvest, special attention is paid to the premises. His environment should be as natural as possible. What to do - step by step instructions:
- Fill the floor with concrete mortar, plaster the walls and ceiling.
- Divide the area into 2 parts - for cultivating mycelium and growing truffles.
- Install shelving (preferably metal-plastic).
- Disinfect. To do this, fumigate the space with sulfur, whitewash the walls/ceilings with lime, spray all surfaces with chlorophos and ventilate.
- Install a ventilation, exhaust and heating system, supply water, hang lamps, a hydrometer and a thermometer.
Cover all openings to the street with fine mesh to prevent insects from entering. Maintain standard air temperature and humidity (as in other cases).