Alba Truffle Hunt

After a quiet night serenaded by the gentle cooing of the doves (and we are above a bar and a restaurant - go figure), we GPSed to our designated meeting place to pick up our guide Marco at 0930. Marco then came on board and became our GPS and translator. His English was excellent and very carefully spoken. 

After a short drive into the country we arrived at a hazelnut orchard flanking a mature oak forest and met Enrique, the truffle hunter and Lisa, a 12 year old spaniel mix truffle dog. We (and Lisa's leash) went off. Lisa found a total of four summer black truffles. Each scenario proceeded as follows|:

1. Lisa would patrol the area until she caught a whiff of truffle. She would then zone in on the exact location and start rapidly digging.

2. Enrique would rush oven a grab Lisa so her nails would not damage the mushroom.

3. Enrique would then carefully unearth the truffle using a screwdriver-like tool.

4. Lisa would then get her treats (and in one case a small, reject truffle).

Mature oak forest

Sign marking area

Enrique, Lisa, Marco and Norma

Enrique and Lisa at a find

Unearthing the find

There it is!

Savouring the odour

A nice big summer black truffle

A great experience!

Some questions we had answered:

The truffle dogs start their training at a very young age when still nursing. Truffle oil is applied to the mothers nipples so the pups learn the smell and taste. The dogs that will excel are soon identified and training starts with buried truffles. Lisa's five year old daughter is also one of the dogs used but was left home today as she gets too rambunctious.

 

We asked Enrique if he takes his finds home to eat but he says he sells to restaurants in town or sends them to a contact in Dubai. 

The truffle hunters have challenges like we do in Canada. The forests are being cut down to make room for grapes. The extreme temperatures and dry years halt production. They have just ended a three year drought where there wasn't even snow.  The Alba area has recently been deemed a UNESCO cultural heritage site to help preserve this activity.