The short answer is, yes! Yes, they are. Truffles are one of the most expensive ingredients in the world and are used in a variety of foods like pasta, oils, and even pizzas. In the United States, there’s also a ‘truffle burger’ that costs around $150. European white truffles can cost up to $3,600 per pound and a few shavings on top of your meal can cost hundreds of dollars. But honestly, what’s the big deal about truffles? They’re not very appealing to look at, and quite frankly, they smell really bad! Yes, they have an ‘interesting’ taste- for lack of a better word, but if you’ve never had truffle, you’re not missing out on much.
Just look at this picture. Do these little pieces of fungi look appealing to you? However, food lovers swear by them. So what makes truffle so expensive? Well, unlike regular mushrooms, they actually grow under tree roots and are incredibly difficult to cultivate. A truffle harvester would usually need the help of dogs or hogs who have been trained for years. Because of their scarcity and difficulty during cultivation, these bad boys are priced at exorbitant rates.
Let’s not even get started on the lie that is truffle oil. Truffle oil is priced so high but barely tastes like truffle. There is no earthy taste or pungent smell and it tastes like plain oil. The richness of the truffle is not present in these oils and that is because there are a lot of people and companies out there that try to replicate the flavor synthetically. Yes, that’s right! Most truffle oils contain very little amount of truffle so what you’re essentially paying for is a bottle of overpriced oil. Most chefs do not like it either and prefer the real thing over the light essence you get in the bottle.
We often think that if something is done by the rich, it must be good and if we don’t like it that means we’re not sophisticated enough. However, just because something’s expensive doesn’t mean it’s good. And it also doesn’t mean that you’re supposed to like it. Truffles are a sign of wealth but you’re not bound to like them. Do I think truffles are overrated? Yes, I do but I also think people should do what they like. If you want to spend hundreds on one pasta with a few shavings on top, go ahead!
