Black Summer Truffle (Tuber Aestivum)

Black Summer Truffle (Tuber Aestivum) Availability: June-Sept.

•The most plentifully harvested truffle.  The fruity body ranges from the size of a hazelnut to that of an orange. The skin is black. The odor is pleasant and delicate, resembling that of hazelnuts. The main period for ripening runs from June to September. This truffle is commonly found in Europe, and in Italy, or wherever there is limestone terrain.

Fresh Truffle Storage and Handling: After buying fresh truffles, your precious purchase should be cleaned of any earth by rubbing it gently with a small brush, such as a toothbrush, under running water. Fresh truffles are living, delicate organisms that must be consumed as soon as possible as they tend to dehydrate (at room temperature they lose 1-2% of their weight every day) and lose their scent. To properly store your truffle, before or in between uses, wrap it in a dry paper towel, which you should change every day. Then place the truffle in a glass jar, close tightly and store in the least cool part of the refrigerator somewhere between 39-46 degrees Fahrenheit. This storage method guarantees the quality of a prized white truffle will stay for at least a week and that of a black truffle for two weeks.