There is no doubt that the black truffle is one of the most sought-after gourmet foods on the market due to its uses in haute cuisine and its spectacular characteristics in terms of flavour, aroma and texture. It is a fungus that grows underground in symbiosis with the roots of some tree species, such as holm oak, hazel or oak, among many other types of trees.
It tends to grow in Mediterranean climate forests at a certain altitude and with certain levels of temperature and humidity. So to speak, it is a rarity of nature. For this reason, it is quite difficult to find, which explains why this food is sold at such a high price, as well as why it is in great demand by many chefs in prestigious restaurants.
However, possibly due to its rarity and the difficulty of harvesting it, the black truffle has been surrounded by mystery throughout history. For this reason, stories and myths have arisen around it about its origin. For this reason, in this article we will try to talk about the myths and realities of the black truffle. If you are curious, we recommend you read on.
ORIGIN OF THE BLACK TRUFFLE
One of the most debated facts about the black truffle is its origin, as it is unknown when the first black truffle was found and the use given to it by humans in prehistoric times. However, with the invention of writing, the first civilisations of the Ancient Ages already documented the use of the black truffle as a prized gastronomic ingredient.
In fact, texts have been discovered in Ancient Egypt documenting that it was a food consumed by the Pharaohs around the 14th century B.C. Subsequently, this food passed into the hands of the Greeks and, later, the Romans. Today’s Western civilisation would therefore have inherited the use of this delicacy from the Greco-Roman heritage of our societies over the centuries.
Thanks to this, today we can enjoy the aroma, flavour and properties of the black truffle in the preparation of certain types of dishes. Likewise, throughout history, due to its scarcity and its impressive characteristics, it has been a foodstuff as revered as jewels and gold.
Although this has not always been the case, since, during the Middle Ages, probably because of its aphrodisiac properties and for being a scarce and luxury good, the black truffle was forbidden by the Catholic Church. It should be remembered that at this time in history this institution preached austerity and total devotion to God and everything that was accessory was a distraction to be eliminated. Fortunately for our palate, in the Renaissance its use was recovered and, from there, its use spread again to our societies as we know it today.
MYTHS AND REALITIES OF THE BLACK TRUFFLE
But if we go back a little further, to the civilisations of the Ancient Ages, especially Greece, we find some writings that talk about its origin and spread myths and legends about this fungus, surrounding it in a halo of mystery. In fact, some texts claim that it was a gift from the gods to mankind, as well as a miracle of nature.
In these writings, such as the “History of Plants” by Theophrastus, who was a disciple of the philosopher Aristotle, they are classified as “plants” and it is noted that they grow naturally after summer and autumn storms. In reality, we know today that they are not plants, but fungi, but we can say that it is true that their development begins in late spring and continues in summer until early autumn.
In this way, we can say that summer storms are essential for their development, as they provide the humidity that these fungi need to develop in symbiosis with the roots of some tree species. For this reason, they are harvested between November and the end of March or the beginning of April.
However, it is true that, although in antiquity some thinkers wrote about this fungus, it is also true that it was used and consumed mainly by the upper classes and people in power. In Egypt, it was eaten by the pharaohs, in Greece, by the top leaders, and in Rome, by the emperors.
However, for the majority of the people it was a totally unknown food or they had heard of its wonders in a vague and diffuse way. All this eventually contributed to shrouding the black truffle in a halo of mystery and mysticism, which, in spite of everything, still persists today.
