Truffel Hunter Part I

Bourgonge truffles have for a long time back been found in France, while in Italy one mostly finds the white truffle. Truffles use to be found by pigs, but nowadays most truffle hunters use dogs and the most common is Lagotto Romagnolo.

For the last ten years the first  Bourgone truffles,were found on Gotland, an island three hours by boat from Stockholm. Now truffles, referred to as black gold, have become very important for the island of Gotland. A lot of people (or dogs) are looking for them during the period of September to December. It will cost you around $1000 a kilo to buy your very own truffles. A lot of restaurants serve truffle menus during the season, and a lot of the truffles are exported all around the world.

The people on Gotland make truffle oil, truffle salt,  and truffle cakes to sell all over Sweden. These lovely items are also exported to the rest of the world.  From entrées to desserts, truffles are served in all of it's varieties in restaurants. Omelets with truffles, fish with a truffle sauce or why not vanilla ice-cream with freshly sliced truffles over it.

There is one point of caution we would like you to know about however. The truffle is not included in the Allemansrätt ( Everyones rights), because it grows under the ground. The owner of it is the landowner. People with Lagottos have a busy time in the fall being asked my curious landowners wanting to see if they have a little black gold in the ground.

Here are some pictures our truffle hunt,with my Lagotto Diesel.

When we are searching, the dog gets a command, to search and then he starts sniffing around the area.  As soon as he smells truffle, he starts digging it up. It can be just under the surface or up to half a meter down. When he has found it, he gets a piece of sausage or meatball for his great efforts. In the four or five hours w are searching for truffles, we can find up to one or two kilos. Diesel has a lot of fun and has us running all over the forest after him.

After a day in the forest, Diesel will stay under the burning fire and rest, while I have to clean the truffles and sell them to restaurants and others. The truffle has to be used in a week or two. But you can freeze it, but it will loose some of its taste.