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​A Guide to the Delicious and Prestigious Black Truffle Salt

Posted by The Salt Box on 25th Jan 2018

Black truffles are amongst the most prestigious and alluring foods in the world. While there are many types of truffles, few are actually edible. And amongst these, the black variety are the second-most commercially valuable. They are favoured in haute cuisine (“high cooking”) for their rich, district aroma and complex flavour. And, of course, they are very expensive. But what if you could enjoy the exotic flavour of black truffle for a fraction of the price? Enter black truffle salt.

Looking to indulge in the incomparable flavour of freshly sliced truffles? You need to try Black truffle salt.

What Is Black Truffle Salt?

As the name implies, black truffle salt is sea salt that has been combined with small, thin slices of black truffle. It is an excellent way to add that distinctive, earthy truffle flaour to a dish, without having to fork out big bucks for fresh truffle.

Exotic, powerful and full of passion, black truffle salt will turn any dish into a deliciously complex culinary feat, and it can be used in any number of ways: on eggs, pasta, meats, salad, with olive oil as a bread dip, or even on buttered popcorn.

What Are Black Truffles?

Truffles are the fruiting body of a subterranean fungus that grows as a result of a relationship with the roots of particular trees. They begin to grow late in the summer, then slowly mature during autumn. By winter they are ready to harvest. While not all truffles are edible, those that are have become highly prized in French, Greek, Italian, Middle Eastern, and Spanish cuisine, as well as in international haute cuisine. Renowned French food writer, Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, called truffles "the diamond of the kitchen”.

Black truffles are a species of truffle native to Southern Europe, but that have also been cultivated around the world. Historically the most famous black truffle of all is from a specific part of the Dordogne called the Périgord, in southern France. They have round, dark brown fruiting bodies with a dark skin and small pyramidal cusps. Inside they are initially light, then turn dark leaving behind a complex of gorgeous white veins.

Like all other truffles, black truffles grow beneath the soil, and are located and uncovered by truffle-sniffing pigs and dogs - a technique dating back centuries. The truffle-hunting process is long and labor intensive, one of the reasons that they are so expensive in today’s market.

What Do Black Truffles Taste Like?

Black truffles are prized by chefs around the world for their complex flavour and aroma that is unlike anything else. As with other truffles, their aroma is unusual and hard to pin down. They exude a scent reminiscent of wet earth and strawberries or dried fruit, with a hint of cocoa. When heated, truffles develop their robust flavour profile, a perfect blend of earth and chocolate, slightly peppery and a little bitter.

How To Use Black Truffle Salt

Using black truffle salt is the perfect way to add an exotic richness to a meal, turning even the plainest of dishes into a complex medley of flavours and aromas. Try it with eggs, avocado and mushroom for a breakfast extravaganza, add it to homemade dips, sprinkle some on a pasta dish, add it to a steak sauce, throw a pinch on a cheese toastie, some french fries or some popcorn. The possibilities are endless!

If you’re looking to indulge in the incomparable flavour of freshly sliced truffles for a fraction of the price, take a look at our black truffle salt range here.