Black truffle is a unique, black-purple, gummy gift of nature's bounty. There are only about four known species of this rare mushroom, all of which are from the France Alps. One species, Hyoscyamus Niger, has been found in the wild in Japan. In fact, it has inspired many legends of haunted spots. Here are some facts about this delicacy, that will give you a good idea of why it is considered so special.
A truffle is a juicy, gummy body of underground, a fruiting fungus called a Mycosporium. In fact, several different species of these fungi are known as truffles, including Tuber and Geopora. They are the only two known species of this genus that produce a black color when they are cut open. Some other fungi produce white coloring when sliced. The black color is due to pigments that are present inside the cell wall of these special fungi.
Unlike most mushrooms, which have a wide, flat cavity, the interior of a truffle contains a series of pleats and folds that can hold numerous fruit and seeds. When a piece of this delightful gourmet food is rubbed on the inside of someone's mouth, it will very quickly begin to multiply. It is this process of growth that gives the black truffle salt its unusual name. Also called "truffle salt" or "truffle fungus salt," this product is highly desirable. Many people believe it to be better for your health than ordinary table salt.
Truffle salt has been a delicacy in Europe since the 1500s. Originally, this delicatessen item was considered to be very high in quality. While the quality of truffle used in making the salt varied slightly from location to location, no matter where it was from, the black truffle salt always held the same high regard. It is not uncommon today to find many people trying to identify this product, so if you do not know exactly what it is, you should know that it is one of the most popular natural ingredients in foods and drinks.
This type of salt has long been treasured by many people who enjoy eating dark chocolate and flavored desserts. Most people tend to purchase the commercially prepared truffle salt at grocery stores, although it is possible to make your own black truffle salt. While it does require some time and effort to learn how to prepare this product, it is well worth the effort for those who love the taste of dark chocolate and truffles. If you do decide to make your own black truffle salt, you will find that it can be done with a bit of trial and error, but with a bit of patience, you can master the preparation.
The secret to making this salt is to know how to grade the truffles. This is an important step when making black truffle salt. When you are able to discern the maturity of each piece of chocolate by using a test card or a wooden stick, you can then determine how much black truffle salt is needed to bring out the absolute highest quality. Black truffle salt will hold its flavor for quite a few years, so you may find that you have to experiment with varying the amount to find just the right balance of flavor.
When cooking with black truffle salt, it is important to remember that it can alter the taste of many foods. Because of this, it is typically used in conjunction with other spices to achieve the desired result. Many chefs will use it as an ingredient in meat recipes, whereas others will blend it with Rosemary for a nice seasoning to fish and seafood dishes. The possibilities are endless, as almost everything can be made better with the addition of this little known seasoning.
This form of seasoning comes in two forms, both of which are equally popular. Although most people tend to think of black truffle salt as being salt form rolled in chocolate, you can also purchase it in a powdered form that comes in a variety of flavors. You can also buy black truffle salt in bags, jars, and crystal shapes, so you do not have to keep track of whether you are purchasing the dark or light version. The only real difference between the two is in the way they are seasoned, but either way, these little pieces of goodness can improve the flavor of just about any dish that you would cook.