In the province of Buenos Aires, 520 kilometers from the Capital, on National Route 33, there is a town of about 800 inhabitants that keeps an incredible treasure underground.
He “black diamond” It is not a precious stone, but it is a high-value product. Priced between 1,000 and up to 3,000 euros per kilo.
It turns out that Espartillar – the town in question – has the highest production of black truffles from Argentina: Trufas del Nuevo Mundo settled there a long time ago, a venture that was born in 2011, with 50 hectares.
What are black truffles? Edible mushrooms (Tuber melanosporum). They are called “black diamonds” because they are extremely valued throughout the gastronomic world.
Part of its fame lies in its aroma, which is usually defined as “complex”, “strange” and “very intense”. But especially because production and collection It is not a simple task.
Let’s search in the forest
For a start To talk about black truffles, you need a forest of oaks, holm oaks or hazelnuts since the truffle grows in its roots and develops in symbiosis with this type of trees.
This means that before thinking about collecting truffles you must have – or plant – certain trees.
He floorIn addition, it must have a specific pH, with adequate structure, texture and calcareous quality that allows the cultivation of black truffles, they explain in Truffles of the New World.
Added to this is that the search and collection of truffles is carried out with specially trained dogs They detect them by the unique aroma they give off. Then, with great care, the collectors are in charge of extracting it with their hands and with truffle shovels.
Then it’s time to remove the land and analyze the treasure obtained: each of the truffles is brushed, washed and classified according to the degree of maturity. Also important are questions such as shape and weightin addition to any damage it may present.
Winter visitors and trufi tourism
They say in Truffles of the New World that they obtained the first truffles in August 2016: the first weighed 68 grams; the second 236. To get an idea of whether it is a little or a lot: The largest one they obtained so far weighed 628 grams and it was in 2020, in the midst of a pandemic.
Con 20,000 trees and production underway, every year they invite you to experience the truffle huntingan activity that takes place in July and August.
During the visits – they take place on Saturday mornings, with prior reservation – you learn about this product, its production process and work in the field.
And, of course, a truffle hunting (collection), with some of the trained dogs (Lola, Soria, Marilyn, Sandro or Sancho) who will guide the temporary collectors to the treasure underground.
“When we find (a truffle), we are going to show you how we collect it, a craftsmanship and high precision so as not to break the truffle that we are looking for so much,” they explain.
The search day ends with a tasting in different presentations: starter, main course and dessert. The entire activity costs $55,000 per person. And if you want to buy truffles to take home, there are options starting at $10,000.
The gastronomic experience can be repeated in one of the restaurants from the area who work with truffles.
To schedule, in June it takes place Trufarthe Argentine Truffle Festival, which this year falls on June 21 and 22.