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The highly-prized black truffle of Norcia
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Identity Card
Name: Black truffle of Norcia
Product category: Truffle
Area of production: Valnerina (Umbria) |
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THE "BLACK DIAMOND" OF UMBRIAN CUISINE |
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Umbria is in the central part of Italy, and is a region abounding in culinary specialties, capable of offering connoisseurs six different kinds of truffles. Delicacies that are available all year round, much to the delight of gourmets everywhere.
The most highly prized is the "black truffle of Norcia" which is gathered from December to March, but the out-of-season truffles harvested in summer and winter also have many admirers. This product constitutes an important business for local gatherers who even have their own fair which is generally held around the 20th of February in Norcia, near the city of Perugia. In addition to truffles, this fair also serves as an occasion to show off all the other local specialties. Umbrian cuisine boasts a number of dishes featuring truffles. Some of the tastiest ones are crostini with truffles, which are served as an antipasto, and, of course, spaghetti is delicious with black truffles of Norcia; it is served covered with flakes of the costly tuber, marinated beforehand in extra-virgin olive oil. Penne tartufate is another great dish, featuring truffles in a rich cream and Parmigiano Reggiano sauce. For a special main-course treat, try carpaccio (raw beef) with black truffles. In the old days truffle gatherers used sows to hunt for truffles; today the pigs have been replaced by dogs that are patiently trained from the time they are puppies; a good truffle hound can cost a fortune. The craft-based local food industry, expert in processing these "black diamonds" (that's what they call the truffles), has come up with a way for people to enjoy all the flavor of the Valnerina, a valley in the Southeast of Umbria, without the bother of taking fresh truffles home with them. They have developed all sorts of aromatic oils, patés and truffle-based condiments that can be kept for months without losing any of their precious flavor. Regarding the aphrodisiac proprieties of Tuber melanosporum (this is the Lain name of the Norcia black truffle) there many different opinions. But there is unanimous agreement concerning the nutritional benefits of this truffle, rich in lysine, cystine and methionine, three amino acids that are very important for our well-being. One more reason to make sure you always include truffles when you cook.
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