As the king of the world's delicacies, truffles are as expensive as gold, yet they are in short supply, making them a superior ingredient eagerly sought after by top chefs in major high-end hotels and restaurants worldwide.
The unique aroma of truffles cannot be replaced by any other ingredient globally, and they cannot be artificially cultivated. They can only be unearthed by sows with a special sensory perception for truffle taste or by dogs with a keen sense of smell.
Truffles are produced worldwide, with dozens of varieties, mainly in France, Italy, Spain, and Croatia. Among them, French black truffles and Italian white truffles are the most high-end and expensive.
French people describe the complex fragrance of truffles as a mix of musk, semen, and the scent of years-unwashed bed sheets — an aroma that triggers primitive human impulses and desires. Yet honestly, after trying truffles, Huo Sining, being from Bashu, doesn't quite like them.
