The extended summer due to climate change has made Alba white truffles more expensive than gold bars, difficult to cultivate, and increasingly scarce.
Truffles, also known as white truffles, are commonly found in the town of Alba, located in Piedmont, Italy. They have a strong aroma and a unique sweet flavor, sometimes even carrying hints of garlic.
Truffles are often referred to as the “king of mushrooms” due to their high nutritional value and unmistakable fragrance. A single slice of truffle can elevate the flavor of any dish to extraordinary heights. Because of their rarity and distinctive taste, these truffles are priced higher than lobster, more expensive than gold bars, and costlier than any other type of mushroom.
White truffles are the most expensive mushrooms in the world. (Photo: Global News).
With limited supply and skyrocketing demand, white truffles have reached prices as high as $4,790 per kilogram at the International Alba White Truffle Fair that concluded on December 8 this year. Two twin white truffles with a shared root became the highlight of the fair, weighing 905 grams and sold for $150,000 to a billionaire from Hong Kong.
Despite their high price, white truffles are in decline. Over the past three decades, the area dedicated to white truffles in Italy has decreased by 30%, making way for vineyards and hazelnut forests that offer higher profits. However, the main threat to white truffles is climate change. Global warming, deforestation, and sudden temperature changes are all factors contributing to the degradation of their natural habitat.
Unlike other common mushrooms, white truffles grow underground, symbiotically with hardwood trees by attaching to their roots. To survive, truffles require a cold and moist environment. However, in early November, the temperature in the region reached 20 degrees Celsius. With the prolonged summer weather, production is declining.
Carlo Marenda founded the “Save the Truffle” association in 2015 alongside natural sciences researcher Edmondo Bonelli. “If we want to prevent truffles from disappearing, we must protect forests, stop polluting water sources, and plant more new trees,” they shared. Ten years later, thanks to donations and support from many winemakers, the association has planted over 700 trees in the Langhe hills, including poplar, oak, and hazelnut trees.
The harvest season, which runs from October to the end of January, is becoming shorter. With colder weather and delayed snowfall, the aroma of truffles does not reach its peak and does not last long, according to Marenda. Excessive rain, like what has occurred in recent weeks, can also be detrimental. “If there is too little water, truffles do not develop. If there is too much water, they will rot,” he stated.
Whether truffles are on the brink of extinction or not, according to Mario Aprile, president of the Piedmont Truffle Hunter Association, white truffles cannot be cultivated like black truffles. Without hardwood trees, truffles cannot exist, which is why planting trees is essential for restoring biodiversity.
