What Is Truffle, and Why Is It So Expensive?

Truffle is a kind of mushroom that grows underground, living alongside the roots of trees such as oak and hazel. It can't be seen from the surface, so hunters take trained dogs to sniff it out. Because it is so hard to find and has an aroma like nothing else, truffle is one of the most expensive ingredients in the world (Wikipedia: Truffle).

Why Is Truffle So Expensive?

1. Hard to find — it grows underground, so dogs or pigs are needed to smell it; today dogs are preferred because they don't eat the truffles they find
2. Hard to grow — white truffle can hardly be cultivated, and black truffle can be grown in orchards but takes years before the first harvest
3. A short season — each type can only be harvested in certain months
4. The aroma fades fast — fresh truffle is at its best for only a few days after digging, so it has to be shipped quickly

Black Truffle vs White Truffle

Is Truffle Oil Made from Real Truffle?

This is something many people don't know: many brands of truffle oil use synthetic flavouring that imitates the smell of truffle rather than being extracted from real truffle, which is why it costs far less than fresh truffle. To tell which kind you have, check the label for pieces of truffle or a stated origin. Truffle-scented sauces and oils can still make food smell and taste great; they're just a different thing from fresh truffle.

Truffle-Scented Dishes at Coco Chaophraya

• Truffle mushroom pizza — mixed mushrooms with truffle aroma, a meat-free pizza (pizza section)
• Truffle mushroom tortilla — thin and crisp, fragrant with mushroom, great as a snack (snacks section)
• Fettuccine with Italian sausage in truffle cream sauce — truffle-scented cream sauce clinging to flat noodles (pasta section)

For more on the meat-free truffle pizza, read Truffle pizza for vegetarians (in Thai).

How to Get the Most from Truffle Aroma

Truffle aroma loves rich, mild foods such as cream, butter, cheese, eggs and dough, because fat carries the scent. That's why truffle so often appears with creamy pasta, risotto, scrambled eggs and pizza. Eat it while the food is still hot so the aroma rises clearly, and avoid pairing it with very spicy or very sour food, which will mask the truffle completely.

About us: Coco Chaophraya has been open for more than 10 years. We started at the front of Baan Chao Phraya before moving to the Chao Phraya riverside. Our chefs have more than 10 years of experience, and our professional baristas have more than 10 years of experience making coffee.

Summary: What Is Truffle?

• Truffle is a mushroom that grows underground on tree roots and is found with trained dogs
• It's expensive because it's rare, hard to grow, has a short season and loses its aroma quickly
• White truffle costs more than black and is shaved fresh over food
• Many truffle oils use synthetic aroma

Coco Chaophraya is at 49/1 Phra Sumen Road, behind Baan Chao Phraya, right on the Chao Phraya River with a view of Rama 8 Bridge. Open daily 10:00–23:00. See the full Coco Chaophraya menu.