Truffles in the Oltrepò Pavese

Are there truffles in the Oltrepò Pavese ? The answer is yes! Over time, Oltrepò has become one of the most important markets at a national level for this delicious product.

An association has also been created which welcomes numerous truffle hunters ( ARTOP : Oltrepò Pavese Truffle Researchers Association).

Where to find truffles in Oltrepò?

The Alta Valle Staffora is known by the presence of black truffles that grow even at high altitudes. In the woods of Casteggio area, white truffles grow instead. The ideal climate is temperate and quite rainy.

How many types of truffles are there?

In the main division between black and white, in Oltrepò there are different types of truffles.

Images from https://www.tartufooltrepo.it/

• The prized black truffle can be as small as a hazelnut or as big as an apple. It is aromatic, pleasant, almost sweet and intense. For this reason it is also called sweet truffle. It ripens from November until about mid-March, so it is used in winter recipes.
• The black winter truffle has a ripening period that goes from December to March. It is also included in winter dishes. The scent is persistent but less particular, therefore it is less expensive.
• The black summer truffle or scorzone is easier to find and therefore cheaper. It ripens from May to the end of August. Its flavor is less penetrating, but it is aromatic and soft; it is widely used in accompanying sauces and in truffle butter.
  

• The prized white truffle is usually found starting from October. It grows between 100 and 400 meters above sea level. The aroma is pleasant, intense, delicately reminiscent of garlic and fermented cheese.
• The truffle called bianchetto tolerates summer drought better, it can be found more easily.It has a stronger smell and a spicy flavor.

Where to eat truffles in Oltrepò Pavese?

It is difficult to identify restaurants that mainly have truffle dishes, because much depends on the year, more or less fortunate with respect to the quantity of truffles found, and therefore on the availability of the raw material.

However, in the menu of some restaurants we sometimes find recipes with truffles: from tartare with truffle slices, to first courses of fresh pasta with truffles or second courses of meat seasoned with truffle sauces.
For example:

• LO Restaurant , in Bosnasco, on the border with the “provincia di Piacenza”
• Trattoria Quaglini in Borgo Priolo in Località Schizzola Alta (PV)
• Agriturismo Boccapane in Ruino di Pometo
• L’Azienda Agricola Daffunchio Paola n Casteggio offers activities related to truffle hunting which are then combined with the tasting of a truffle dish.
  

Where to buy truffles in Oltrepò?

To buy truffles in Oltrepò, you can go to mainitartufi.com , in Varzi.
The passion that the owner, an expert truffle hunter, has for this highly sought-after food shines through.

Another point of reference in Oltrepò Pavese is La Fungaia , in Ponte Nizza: the point of sale of truffle products that dates back to 1980.