TUBER melanosporum

Black truffles or Périgord truffles, also known as Norcia truffles, grow in France from December to April (particularly in the Périgord region and in the Provence), in Italy (in Umbria and Piedmont, as well as in other regions) and in Spain. The last few decades have also seen it successfully cultivated in the southern hemisphere, particularly in Australia and in South America. The quality of these truffles, available from June to August, is absolutely comparable with the European variety: the geographical origin serves here again as a significant indicator of quality, but less famous regions can also produce excellent truffles. Unlike the white truffle, black truffles are eminently suitable for cooking and can be used in many different recipes.