Truffles
Black summer truffle
Tuber aestivum
Season
The harvest lasts from early summer to mid-autumn, although during mild winters it is possible to find summer truffles as late as early January.
Spread
It is the most common truffle in Bulgaria, Italy, Serbia, Romania, etc.
Distinguishing Features
It is the so-called black summer truffle. Оn the outside, it is covered with a floury, beige core with veins of white marble. Its scent is very characteristic and delicate, slightly nutty.
Black winter truffle
Tuber brumale
Season
The harvest is started in December, and in milder winters is found until the end of March.
Spread
Central and southern Europe, it is very common in Bulgaria.
There are deposits everywhere: in the mountains of Balkan, Sredna Gora, Rhodopes, in Strandja, etc.
Distinguishing Features
Tuber brumale is a black winter truffle. It has black warts on the outside, almost round. Its core is grey or brown, with large marbling patterns. It has a nutty, quality scent and is relatively resistant to temperature changes.
Black winter truffle
Tuber uncinatum
Season
Harvest is in autumn to mid-December, although in mild winters it is possible to find truffles as late as January.
Spread
Bulgaria, Italy, Serbia, Romania, etc.
The best deposits are known in the region of the Pre-Balkan, both in its eastern part as well as in the western part. There are deposits in the mountains of Strandzha, Sakar and in the Eastern Rhodopes. It is mainly found in oak forests.
Distinguishing Features
Tuberous uncinatum is the second species of winter black truffle in Bulgaria. It has large, irregularly shaped black warts on the outside and dark ochre on the inside. Its scent is the closest to that of the Tubber Melanosporum - the most expensive of the black truffles. Tuber uncinatum has excellent taste.
White truffle
Tuber magnatum pico
Season
Its season is very short: from September to December, depending on the region.
Spread
Central Italy, southern France, Romania, Croatia and Bulgaria.
Distinguishing Features
This truffle is very rare and grows only naturally, so it is the most expensive in the world. It has a smooth surface, slightly velvety, from pale ochre to dark cream or greenish. Its interior is darker, beige-reddish-brown, with thin white streaks. It is also available in beige with brown oval spots. It is very delicate and spoils in a few days.
White winter truffle
Tuber borchii
Season
The harvest is from winter to spring.
Spread
This truffle is found all over Europe, from Finland to Sicily. It is also found in Bulgaria.
Distinguishing Features
Tuber borchii is an edible truffle with excellent culinary qualities, often referred to as the bianchetto (whitish truffle). It is the size of a chickpea or an egg and ranges in colour from pale yellow to reddish brown. . Its surface is smooth or finely hairy, especially in the hollows. Thus it is confused with the Piedmont white truffle (TUBER MAGNATUM PICO).