A bumper crop of cherished white truffles this year is sending gourmands into frenzies of delight as prices are falling.
The white truffles are rarer and more costly than black ones (pictured). This season they are changing hands for about €2,000 a kilogram, down from €3,500 last year and an astronomical €5,000 in 2012.
A very wet summer of heavy rain and floods in Italy was followed by a dry, warm autumn. The conditions have brought heartache to the country’s wine producers who fear their harvest could be the worst in 50 years.
But in the damp leaf littler by oak, beech and hazel trees, truffle-sniffing dogs are bringing in a record crop.
Most white truffles come from the Piedmont area in the north. The towns of Alba and Asti have long-established reputations among connoisseurs.
Black truffles, on the other hand, can be found in most parts of Italy, although Umbria accounts for 30% to the total crop, with Tuscany and the March region also contributing significantly.
Some 200,000 truffle hunters are estimated to operate regularly in Italy, traditionally keeping their best spots a close secret.
The sector is worth around €400m a year and that could be higher this year.
An International Truffle Fair will take place in Alba from 11 October through to 16 November.
