Frequently Asked Questions

What are truffles?

Truffles are a kind of 'underground mushroom' that grow on the roots of certain tree species. They are highly prized by top chefs and connoisseurs for their exquisite flavour. For the more technically-minded a truffle is essentially a tangled mass of mycelium (the vegatative part of a fungus) and fungal spores. When the truffle is ripe the mycelium and spores come together to form the hard, marbled nugget near the surface of the forest floor.
When a tree is first infected by the truffle fungus, thread-like microsopic roots of mycelium attach themselves to the root and then spread into the soil around. The mycelium forms a symbiotic relationship (one where they both benefit) with the host tree. The truffle roots increase the surface area of the tree's roots, bringing extra nutrients from the soil into the tree. In return, the tree gives the truffle sugar and glucose to grow as the truffle can't photosynthesize (turn carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight).

Why cultivate truffles?

Truffles are one of the most expensive fungi on the face of the planet. Wholesale prices for the black winter truffle (Tuber melanosporum) can exceed $2500 per kg.

How can truffles be cultivated?

Like all mycorrhizal species the truffle grows in conjunction with the roots of certain plants. The black truffle grows most successfully with the roots of oak and hazel trees. Our new technique allows infected trees to be planted and truffles harvested. The truffle grows underground and the 'truffle farm' looks like a tree plantation.

Have other people grown truffles?

Yes. However, due to the current (and out-dated) technology only a small percentage of truffle farms are really successful. Some truffle plantations have failed due to poor technology and poor attention to detail. Others, particularly in the eastern States, have purchased trees with little or poor technical advocacy and will suffer the same results as other trufferies with low yields. The technique we have developed is a more thorough and reliable scientific method. Our system produces yields, not leaves.

Why is our technique so much better?

Our technique should eliminate the 'lucky dip' effect. Before plantation we ensure a 100% inoculation rate without contamination. This technique is supported by constant biological monitoring and should lead to a truffle harvest in a shorter time frame, in greater numbers and with increased reliability. Reasonable plantations are reported to produce 20-90Kg/Ha per annum. However, top black truffle yields in French plantations have been reported to be 450g per tree. On this basis, using 2,500 of our trees on a 5 hectare site, a production in excess of 1000 kg per year is theoretically achievable. This represents an annual turnover in excess of $2.5Million. Although these figures are exceptionally high and there is variation in the performance of individual trees, we will do everything in our power to attain such yields.

Are there different types of truffles?

Yes. There are several species. The white truffle (Tuber magnatum) attracts the highest retail prices but has yet to be grown commercially with any real success. We concentrate on the black winter truffle (Tuber melanosporum) which commands the next best financial return. The summer truffle (Tuber aestivum var. uncinatum) is grown commercially in the UK by our partner, Mycorrhizal Systems (UK).  This FAQ is primarily focused on the winter truffle.

What is the Summer truffle?

The Summer truffle (Tuber aestivum var. uncinatum) is very similar to the winter truffle although milder in flavour. For this reason wholesale prices are much lower and are generally $450-700/kg. However, the summer truffle is much more at home in cooler climates and in the UK has been reported to have been found as far north as Scotland!

Can I grow truffles on my land?

The best land for truffle growing should be free from established trees and have a high pH value (7.8-8.3). However, even soils with quite low pH levels can be utilised as long as adequate lime is applied. We have worked with paddocks with a starting pH as low as 4.9.  However, to successfully farm truffles there are a large number of variables that should be fully analyzed. Site assessment is the first stage of our service.

Interested in establishing a truffle farm?

Send an enquiry email  to us.

I have just purchased an inoculated oak tree, how should I plant it?

Your inoculated tree is still a small sapling, around two years old, so if you don't want to plant it directly into the garden it can be kept as a pot plant for several years.
If planting into a pot, choose one that is not too much bigger than the plastic tree tube it is currently in.  A pot around 30cm in diameter and the same depth would be ideal for now, though you will need to re-pot as the tree grows.
Fill the pot with good quality potting mix, add about a half-handful of dolomite lime and mix in well.  Water the sapling before removing it from the plastic tree tube, then carefully tap it out of the pot, retaining as much of the soil around the roots as possible.  Carefully place it into your prepared pot and firm the soil around it, water well.  Do not stand the pot in a saucer as good drainage is essential (if you must use a saucer, ensure that it is emptied after every watering).
If planting into the ground, dig a hole around 30cm deep and wide.  Combine some good quality planting mix, soil conditioner or garden compost, along with a handful of dolomite lime, with the soil removed from the hole.  Use some of this mix to part fill the hole enough so that your sapling will be planted at the same level in the ground that it was in its pot.  Water the sapling then carefully remove it from the plastic pot, retaining as much of the soil around the roots as possible.  Use the improved soil mix to fill the hole and gently firm down around the plant.  Use any left over soil to create a small mound circling the plant, creating a "dish" shape.  This will help to retain water and insulate the plant's roots whilst it becomes established in your garden.  Water well and ensure that the tree receives a good deep watering at least once a week (more often in hot weather) for at least the first two years after planting.

The truffle tree I have just bought has a "certificate of inoculation". What does this mean?

T.A.S.T.E. applies two standards to every tree before it is released for sale: species certification and a percentage colonisation standard.
Species certification involves DNA testing in a laboratory to ensure that every inoculated tree is guaranteed to be inoculated with Tuber melanosporum, or black truffle.
Percentage colonisation standard is the standard T.A.S.T.E. applies to the colonisation levels of the trees released for sale.  The tree roots are examined under a microscope for the presence of mycorrhiza to ensure that colonisation by the Tuber melanosporum (black truffle) fungi has taken place.  Any trees found to be below the minimum level of colonisation are not released for sale. 
When a tree is purchased in a T.A.S.T.E. tree wrapper that carries the certification of inoculation it is confirmation that the above two standards have been applied to that tree.

What does mycorrhizal mean?

Oh boy - now you're getting serious. But it is quite interesting and you can impress at dinner parties.
A mycorrhiza (Gk.,: fungus roots, pl mycorrhizae, mycorrhizas) is a symbiotic (meaning both parties benefit) association between a fungus and the roots of a plant.

Sugar-Water/Mineral exchange

This mutualistic association provides the fungus with relatively constant and direct access to carbohydrates, such as glucose and sucrose supplied by the plant. The carbohydrates are translocated from their source (usually leaves) to root tissue and on to fungal partners. In return, the plant gains the benefits of the mycorrhizal fungus' higher absorbtive capacity for water and mineral nutrients (due to comparatively large surface area of mycelium:root ratio), thus improving the plant's mineral absorption capabilities.

Mechanisms

The mechanisms of increased absorption are both physical and chemical. Mycorrhizal mycelia are much smaller in diameter than the smallest root, and thus can explore a greater volume of soil, providing a larger surface area for absorption. 

Disease resistance

Mycorrhizal plants are often more resistant to diseases, such as those caused by microbial soil-borne pathogens and are also more resistant to the effects of drought. These effects are perhaps due to the improved water and mineral uptake in mycorrhizal plants.

Note also, plants grown in sterile soils and growth media often perform poorly without the addition of spores of mycorrhizal fungi to colonise the plant roots and aid in the uptake of soil mineral nutrients.

What is a black truffle?

Although several species of Tuber are dark or black in colour reference to 'Black Truffles' or 'Perigord Truffles' usually refers to Tuber melanosporum, named for the Perigord region in France and grow with oak, hazelnut and other host species.

What is truffle oil?

Every industry has its embarrassing stories:  Truffle oil is often used as a lower cost and convenient substitute for truffles, to provide flavoring or to enhance the flavor and aroma of truffles in cooking. However, most of the “truffle oil” sold in delicatessen and stores and online does not contain any truffles. The vast majority is olive oil which has been artificially flavored using a synthetic agent such as 2,4-dithiapentane. Daniel Patterson reported in the New York Times that "even now, you will find chefs who are surprised to hear that truffle oil does not actually come from real truffles." Many chefs continue to use inexpensive synthetic truffle oil, considering it to be "a reasonable substitute."
T.A.S.T.E is well aware of the importance of market-driven downstream processing and will be developing a range of flavour and fragrance products in due course. The truffle oil will be a fusion of black truffle and virgin olive oil. In the meantime read the label on the bottle.

Where can I purchase a T.A.S.T.E. truffle tree?

Don't have the room for a trufferie, but want to try growing truffles?  Looking for the perfect gift for a gourmet or gardening friend?  T.A.S.T.E. Truffle Trees are available from the following retail outlets in Western Australia:

Denmark Nursery and Florist
89 Strickland Street, Denmark

Everbloom Garden Centre
665 Railway Terrace, Sawyers Valley

Wanneroo Markets
Prindiville Drive, Wangara

» Click here to contact T.A.S.T.E today.