Emas Putih Truffle di Italia

Berburu 'emas putih' truffle putih di Italia

Di Regio Piedmont di barat daya Italia, tepat di jantung Langhe, terletak perbukitan Alba, tempat ditemukannya truffle putih.

Emas Putih Truffle : semacam Jamur

Truffle -- semacam jamur -- ini adalah varietas fungi yang sangat mahal dan tumbuh di bawah tanah. Truffle ditemukan sekitar 5-20 cm di bawah tanah, dekat akar pepohonan.

Truffle hunter Ezio Costa, 66, picks up a truffle that was found by his dog Jolly in the woods in Monchiero near Alba northwestern Italy November 9, 2013. (REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini)

Photographers take pictures of two truffles weighing 950 grams (2.09 pounds) during the World Alba White Truffle Auction in Grinzane Cavour near Alba, in north-western Italy November 10, 2013. The two biggest truffles at the auction sold for 90,000 euros (about $120,000) to a buyer from Hong Kong. (REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini)

A seller shows a truffle to consumers at the truffle market in Alba, north-western Italy November 9, 2013. (REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini)

A slice of white truffle is seen in this illustration photograph taken in Rome November 19, 2013. (REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini)

Alessandro Boglione, chef at the Grinzane Cavour castle restaurant, cooks pasta after the World Alba WhiteTruffles Auction in Grinzane Cavour near Alba, in north-western Italy November 10, 2013. The two biggest truffles at the auction sold for 90,000 euros (about $120,000) to a buyer from Hong Kong. (REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini)

Cardoon with white truffle and pear is seen at the Guido restaurant in Serralunga d'Alba, in north-western Italy November 11, 2013. (REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini)

Ada bau khas yang muncul dari truffle ini meski hanya bertahan beberapa saat. Anjing-anjing pemburu bisa mendeteksi bau ini, begitu juga pemburu truffle profesional. Truffle putih ini tidak dapat dibiakkan dan hanya tumbuh secara alami di hutan. Namun beberapa tahun belakangan produksinya menurun, penyebabnya adalah perubahan iklim yang membawa kekeringan dan hujan deras.

(Foto-foto oleh Stefano Rellandini/REUTERS)