HOW DOES TRUFFLE HUNTING WORK? To hunt truffles, you take the trained dogs to the forest and let them sniff for about two to three hours. It is important to encourage them all the time so they keep their focus. When the dogs find a truffle, they start digging and you need to stop the dog before they eat it. You help them dig it out with a tool and they get a tasty treat as a reward for finding the treasure. WHAT MADE YOU INTERESTED IN SELLING TRUFFLES? ALSO WHAT ARE SOME OTHER PRODUCTS THAT YOU MAKE? My grandpa started selling truffles about forty years ago. After that, my parents did the same so we just continued the family tradition. We also expanded the business of selling fresh and frozen truffles as well as truffle products. We sell more than forty types of truffles products. Some of the most in-demand ones are olive oil with truffles, sliced truffles in
olive oil, truffles with mushrooms, and white truffle pesto. We also make gin with white truffles—we produced the very first gin with truffles in the world—different types of cheese with truffles, and Trufflla, like Nutella, but with truffles. I can go until forever! WHAT ARE A FEW INTERESTING THINGS YOU CAN SHARE REGARDING TRUFFLES? Female dogs are better hunters than male dogs because they are more focused only on hunting truffles while male dogs are hunting female dogs. Another fun fact, ninety percent of people think we search truffles with pigs, but in Croatia it was never a popular practice. I guess using pig sounds more exotic than dogs.
Finally, big white truffles above 100g are called Jokers and they fetch the highest prices. The auction in Alba, Italy is where a lot of these truffles end up at. HOW TO PICK THE BEST TRUFFLES AND ALSO YOUR FAVOURITE WAY TO EAT THEM? Truffle hunting involves lots of luck, so you don’t just pick the best ones, you take what you can find no matter the size. Every truffle will find its buyer. However, truffles only last for about 12 days from when they are unearthed, so you need to sell it or use it very quickly. My favourite way to enjoy them is in pasta, eggs, or on a good steak.
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