The black truffle is one of nature's most popular delicacies. The fungus which bears its name has been around since Neolithic times in the Mediterranean region of North Africa and Europe and now has several varieties worldwide. It is found on the seeds of mulberries (blackberries) but also on the roots of trees like chestnuts, walnuts, and acorns.
The name truffle comes from the shape of its outer skin. A black truffle sea salt consists of many small dark brown spherical pieces which when sliced open, reveal a delicious creamy interior. This delicious treat can be eaten as a snack with crackers, sandwiches, or just with salad dressings. As a sweet treat, it is usually served with fruit juices or ice cream. When it is prepared for cooking, it may be drizzled with olive oil and a little lemon juice and seasoned lightly with salt and pepper.
Truffles are not actually fungi, they are instead an edible fungus called Tuberculinum. Some of these species grow on the inside of grape skins or in other places where grapes can grow. In general, a truffle is a mushroom that bears spores which can easily be dispersed by wind. However, the black truffle is by far the best known because of its distinctive texture.
Truffles can also refer to other kinds of mushrooms other than the black truffle. Some are called "Pommes de terre" "pears of the sea". Other species include the chocolates of France and Italy, the Spanish tumbar, and the British bergamot. The best known and most common of these fungi is the Tuberculinum.
Fungi belong to many different categories. There are fungi that cause diseases like botulism, which is a type of poisoning due to the eating of contaminated mushrooms. There are also fungi that cause infections like candidiasis which means the growth of yeast in the body. And there are fungi that cause parasites like Tinea cordifolia that cause a dermatitis condition where the person suffers itching and rashes. These are just a few examples of how fungi can affect humans and their surroundings.
Fungi are very delicate living organisms. And just like all other living things they need nutrients in order to stay alive. Fungi need moisture in the first place to grow, and also an environment with good air circulation to grow.
The salt that comes from black truffles has high levels of calcium, potassium, magnesium, and sodium ions. It also has many trace minerals. These minerals help the fungi thrive and multiply and thus, the black truffle salt can help keep the fungi alive in the soil.
As stated, truffle salt is not a true mushroom food and is therefore not eaten raw. It has no taste but instead, it is mixed with other ingredients such as fruits, nuts, olives, or some fruits. to give it an appetizing taste. Some recipes use it as a topping to salad dress salads or as a topping for desserts.
The best way to eat black truffles is to eat them when they are fresh, but this can be difficult to do since black truffles tend to dry out quickly and the flavor tends to change. The best way to preserve them is to freeze them.
Black truffles are actually good candidates for being frozen since it's a delicate fungus and because they have been exposed to oxygen so long ago when they were in the ocean. Since they are very delicate and do not easily decay, they are very resistant to being frozen.
Black truffles are not as hard as other varieties of fungi. So if you find mold growing in your kitchen, you should not worry since they are quite easy to kill you can simply take a cotton swab dipped into olive oil and place it into the holes.
When you do freeze them, they usually last about a year before becoming hard again. But because they are more fragile than others, you will need to do a little extra maintenance on them if you want them to stay fresh.
