Winter black truffle - Native in European countries like France, Italy, and Spain, the winter black truffle is typically harvested between November and March. It is also called the black diamond of Provence or Perigord truffle. People mistakenly consider the French black truffle the best of all black truffles, though actually no truffle from a particular country is better than the others. Wondering what makes the truffle aroma so appealing to the senses? Perhaps, it s the rarity and the fact that truffles are buried deep within the earth. Truffles are so scarce that they are hard to find. Yes, you can find them in every part of the world, but it takes a great deal of hard work, time, patience, and knowledge about various truffle species to be able to collect these precious finds. Truffles have their own characteristics and colors which could change based on their age or maturity. For example, black truffles when still young would have red exterior color with the inside white instead of black. This would be during early spring. Upon September to November, the black truffles would turn into dark grey or black with white veins. What makes truffle hunting all the more difficult is the fact that this mushroom variety grows underground. You can dig truffles from as deep as 15 inches from the ground. That is why you enlist the help of a trained dog or pig when scouring different sources of truffles in the wild. Your hunting buddy must have the ability to detect the pungent smell of truffles. When cooking with truffles, there are several guidelines in order to enhance or heighten the flavour. Keep the flavour of the truffle as the center of the dish. Do not overwhelm it with food with strong flavours. Fats like butter, oil and even cheese could bring out the flavour of the mushroom. To bring out the flavour of the truffle more, limit the quantity to 8-10 grams of truffle per person. This mushroom variety is edible, though. If you re fond of mushroom-filled dishes, you may have seen truffle mushroom quite a number of times on the restaurant menu. Yes, truffles are known all over the world not only as fungi, but also as an exquisite delicacy that s meant to be savored along with other gourmet dishes.