Truffle season has officially begun! Autumn has arrived and opens its doors wide to the warm colors and many shades of red, orange and yellow that color the Langhe, Roero and Monferrato giving us a magical atmosphere. September 22 marks the beginning of autumn, but it also reminds us of the beginning of the hunt for the white truffle of Alba that the whole world envies us. The perfect time to take a Vespa ride in search of truffle-scented dishes and tastings.Truffles: let’s find out up closeThetruffle is a tuber-shapedhypogeous fungus (i.e., it performs its entire life cycle underground) that lives in symbiosis with the roots of certain plants (such as oak, linden, hazel, hornbeam and poplar). It has a fleshy mass called “gleba,” covered by a kind of bark called “peridium,” which can be smooth or sculpted and vary in color from light to dark.

The truffle is made up of a high percentage of water, fiber and mineral salts, organic substances provided by the tree with which it lives in symbiosis, and its shape depends on the characteristics of the soil in which it grows: soft soil will favor the growth of a spherical-shaped truffle, while hard, stony soil with many roots will favor a lumpy shape.Truffles: how to find themThe most fun and exciting moment for any truffle enthusiast is definitely the search for the precious underground mushroom! To “unearth” it, the seeker – or rather, the “trifolao” – goes into the woods accompanied by a dog with a very fine nose, trained in mushroom aroma recognition. In doing so, guided by the animal’s nose and his intuition gained through years of experience, he is able to find the much sought-after truffles. When the dog sniffs it, it “points” it out – in its own way – to the finder, who using a special hoe extracts it as gently as possible. It is important for the finder to put the removed soil back in place, to allow new rootlets to form and hope for the formation of a new truffle.

A curiosity that may be useful to all enthusiasts: in order to engage in theactivity of truffle hunter, it is necessary to possess a card in good standing with the payment of an annual fee. In addition, there are harvest calendars referring to the different species, varying for each region where truffles can be found.The White Truffle of Alba and its FairOf the species best known and appreciated gastronomically, we certainly find the White Truffle of Alba. The harvesting period for this authentic treasure of the earth is from the end of September to December 31, and it is considered the truffle par excellence because it is very difficult to discover.

At the center of the truffle celebration is the
the International White Truffle Fair
, known worldwide, which returns this year for its 90th edition scheduled from Oct. 10 to Dec. 8. It will be a different edition of the fair than usual given the health emergency that has affected the whole world. But there will be no shortage of truffle tasting moments.

The theme of this edition of the Fair will be “The World,” to represent the White Truffle of Alba’s role as an ambassador and “facilitator” of relationships. Over the course of the Fair’s 90-year history, “Tuber magnatum Pico” (the Latin name for truffle) has made its way to the world’s best tables, and thanks in part to a great personage such as Giacomo Morra, the creator of the Truffle Fair, it has become one of the iconic products of haute gastronomy worldwide. Giacomo Morra, a restaurateur and hotelier from Alba, is recognized by all as the one who, through his business, made the world aware of the truffle and especially Alba.

Just as the White Truffle of Alba had reached gourmets all over the world, so admirers began to arrive in Alba in greater numbers each year, eager to discover the secrets of the hills on which the world’s most precious mushroom is born.

In short, one more reason to get on a Vespa and make a stop in the hills of Langhe, Monferrato and Roero, which in the coming weeks will be painted with the colors of autumn.Subscribe to Tour in Vespa NewsRemain updated on the launch of new tours and exclusive promotions: you will receive valuable tips to experience TourinVespa at its best!Subscribe to Tour in Vespa NewsRemain updated on the launch of new tours and exclusive promotions: you will receive valuable tips to experience TourinVespa at its best!