The black truffle, also known under the scientific name of Tuber melanosporum Vitt, is a type of fungus that grows in very specific conditions, which are usually found in southern Europe, in countries such as Italy, France and, of course, Spain. In other words, in order for these curious fungi to develop under the soil, favourable climatic conditions for their development are required, which are usually found in areas with a temperate mediterranean climate.
However, there must also be some other conditions for Tuber melanosporum to develop properly. Among these favourable circumstances for its correct growth, we can mention that in this area there must be summer and autumn storms, but rainfall must not be too intense.
In addition, the soil must be sufficiently steep so that it is not soggy but damp, so it must have adequate drainage. They also tend to grow in areas where the wind blows regularly and where temperatures are slightly cooler in autumn.
Another of the necessary conditions for the cultivation of the black truffle is, strange as it may seem, the altitude, since they do not usually grow below 750 meters or above 450 meters. In the same way, they usually grow next to the roots of some tree species, such as holm oaks, holm oaks, oaks, chestnut trees, pines, etc. The result is a mushroom, with a certain rounded shape and a very varied weight that can range from 5 to 500 grams, with a characteristic flavor and aroma highly appreciated by gourmet cuisine.
Where are there truffles in Spain?
As we have already mentioned, black truffles are a gourmet product, highly appreciated in the world of gastronomy, which are usually grown and cultivated in those areas with a Mediterranean climate where the best conditions for their development are found. For this reason, it is also worth mentioning that not all Mediterranean climate zones have the specific conditions for their growth.
For this reason, if you are wondering where to find truffles in Spain, it is considered that there is a region in the world that has the best conditions for their cultivation: Teruel. This province is the largest truffle producer in Spain, followed by Castellón and Soria. It could be said that it is in the northeast quarter of the Peninsula where the most propitious conditions for truffle growth are found.
Other regions that also stand out in truffle production in Spain are: Lérida, Huesca, Cuenca, Guadalajara and Zaragoza.
The Teruel truffle is well known all over the world for its size, flavor and aroma, and can be used to prepare gourmet dishes in prestigious restaurants. In addition, we must also say that the best black truffle in the world is grown in the region of Gúdar-Javalambre.
This is due to the fact that, specifically in this region, the best conditions for its cultivation and growth are found. For this reason, the village of Sarrión is currently considered “the capital of the black truffle”.
Harvesting season of the black truffle
Black truffles begin to develop in spring and continue growing during the summer, so, as we said before, for their development it is important to have the presence of summer storms on a constant basis. In this way, they can begin to reach maturity in the middle of autumn, at the beginning of November, so the harvesting of Tuber melanosporum Vitt begins in this month and lasts until the end of March or the beginning of April, with the arrival of spring.
Different breeds of dogs are used for harvesting, which are specifically trained to locate and carefully dig up the mushroom when, by smell, they notice that it is at an optimum stage of ripening. Once the harvesting season is over, with the arrival of spring, the cultivation process can begin again for the following season.
Which Spanish village is a world reference in the production of black truffles?
Of course, as we have mentioned before, there is a Spanish village that is a world reference in the production of truffles in Spain and the best place where truffles come from. We are talking about the village of Sarrión, located in the region of Gúdar-Javalambre, in the south of the Aragonese province of Teruel, not far from the border with the Valencian province of Castellón.
A high percentage of the population of this municipality is considered to have truffle plantations, according to the Association of Truffle Growers of Teruel (Atretur), as it is the best place to grow truffles in Spain. In fact, it is considered that more or less 70% of the world’s production of black truffle, Tuber melanosporum Vitt, comes from this region, which is why Sarrión is considered the world capital of the black truffle.
To conclude, we can say that black truffles, highly valued gourmet mushrooms in cuisine, find their ideal habitat in some specific regions, such as Teruel and Castellón, where truffles are grown in Spain. These areas offer the right climate and geographical conditions for the cultivation of Tuber melanosporum Vitt.
However, the town of Sarrión, located in Teruel, stands out as the world’s production epicentre where truffles are grown in Spain, supplying much of the global demand. The harvesting season, which runs from November to March, involves dogs trained to find these underground treasures.
These Spanish regions have proved vital in the creation of this internationally renowned culinary delicacy. And, at the same time, we can also affirm that this situation is allowing the economic survival of many people and families from the region of Gúdar-Javalambre thanks to the cultivation of the so-called “black gold” or “diamond of the forests”.
