The Delicacy of Truffles in Western Cuisine
Truffles are a highly prized ingredient in Western cuisine, often referred to as the "diamonds of the dining table". They typically grow underground around the roots of broad-leaved trees, making them difficult to find and harvest.
In the beginning, humans used pigs to search for truffles. However, pigs often ate the truffles they unearthed while digging. Over time, people started to train dogs to locate truffles instead, which led to the development of the so-called "truffle dogs".
Truffles: A Culinary Treasure
Truffles are renowned for their enticing aroma and are used by chefs worldwide to enhance the flavor of dishes. In the Korean culinary reality show Black and White Chef, several chefs have presented top-tier truffle dishes, showcasing the delicacy's versatility and prestige.
However, truffles require a considerable amount of time to grow, and their growing season is quite short. Due to the difficulty of artificial cultivation, truffles are usually found only in the wild, making them a rare and prized ingredient in gastronomy.
The Importance of Harvesting Truffles at Their Optimal Ripeness
Immature truffles lack aroma and flavor, rendering them essentially useless. On the other hand, overripe truffles tend to have an unpleasant texture. Therefore, it is crucial to harvest truffles when they have reached their best maturity.
However, humans do not possess the necessary ability to accurately determine the ripeness of underground truffles. Instead, we rely on animals with keen senses of smell to pinpoint the ideal time for harvesting.
The History and Rise of Truffle Dogs
Since the 15th century, searching for truffles was traditionally the job of pigs. However, humans later discovered that dogs do not tend to eat the truffles they unearth—as pigs often do—and have better learning abilities. Dogs can derive a greater sense of accomplishment from the task, which made them more suitable for truffle hunting. As a result, truffle dogs gradually replaced truffle pigs.
It is said that almost any dog can be trained to become a truffle dog. Among the breeds particularly well-suited for this role are the Lagotto Romagnolo, Beagle, Border Collie, Golden Retriever, Poodle, Labrador Retriever, and Australian Shepherd.
