At almost 100,000 euros/ kilo, the Alba truffle is one of the most valuable foods in the world. Find out more facts about the new “white gold” here.
When Italian chef Giacomo Morra began sharing this unique truffle with the world in the aftermath of World War II, his triumphant advance was unstoppable. Named after their place of origin, a small Italian town in Piedmont, the "Alba truffle" has developed over time into the most valuable food in the world. Because of their unique taste, they are not only extremely popular with renowned chefs and truffle dealers. More and more private individuals are also treating themselves to this extremely expensive delicacy. You can find out here what effects this has on retail and everyone involved in this highly explosive business.
History and origin of the Alba truffle
The history of the Alba truffle is unique, just like itself. Already valued as an absolute luxury item in ancient Roman times, the expensive mushroom spread from Italy to all of Europe during the Renaissance and was very popular there. In the aftermath of World War II, it finally fell into the hands of chef and hotelier Giacomo Morra. Through extremely clever marketing Morra, who sent the truffles to celebrities and politicians, the now world-renowned brand of Alba truffles was born. Also known as the "white truffle", this delicacy can only be found in a few areas of Italy and Croatia.
Why is the Alba truffle so expensive?
"La guerra dei tartufi" is now part of Italy's regular vocabulary. Translated it means "war of the truffles" and in this case it is even meant literally. Countless truffle collectors meet every year at harvest time and fight each other in search of the rare mushroom. This is not surprising, considering that in recent years the Alba truffle has cost up to 100.00 euros per kilo (compared to three times the price of gold). Whether these unimaginable sumsare justified, let it be left open for now. What is certain is that the Alba truffle is extremely rare and can only grow under certain climatic and geographical conditions. Unlike the "black truffle", no one has yet succeeded in cultivating the Alba truffle. In addition, climate change and storms are threatening the natural occurrence of the fungus.
The dream of getting rich quick also has many negative consequences. Fakes and truffles of inferior quality are increasingly circulating on the markets, further exacerbating the tense atmosphere. Italy is trying to counteract this by employing specially trained assessors on the truffle trade.
An easing of the truffle war is not in sight for the time being. The Alba truffle will probably remain one of the most valuable foods in the world for a long time to come, and its price will continue to rise with the dwindling supply.
If you want to grow truffles in your own garden, you will find important tips for planting and caring for the noble mushroom in this article.