Leslie Massey
Truffles are highly prized in culinary circles and are now grown in all Australian states, with Australia being the fourth-largest producer globally. The truffle industry in Australia has seen a spectacular rise in success with increasing yields year on year. The truffle-growing process is complex and requires an understanding of truffle biology, farm establishment, maintenance, and management. The ideal climate for truffle growth is a cool winter and a warm to hot summer, with well-drained calcareous soil of a pH above 7.5. Truffles are usually harvested in the winter months, from mid-June to late August, with the help of trained dogs that can detect their distinctive aroma. Australia has a variety of truffle-hunting experiences, including hunts, tastings, and gourmet meals featuring the prized product.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Australian Truffle Types | French Black Truffle, Perigord Truffle, Bianchetto White Truffle |
| Australian Truffle Locations | NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia, ACT |
| Australian Truffle Season | Mid-June to late August |
| Australian Truffle Producers | Blue Frog Truffles, Turalla Truffles, Elvesgate Biodynamic Organic Truffle, Durran Durra Truffles, Borrodell Estate, RedGround Truffle Hunts, Ganymede Truffles, Robertson Truffles, Truffle Hill |
| Australian Truffle Hunting Methods | With trained dogs, or on your own |
| Australian Truffle Grading Criteria | Aromatics, shape, size, extent of damage |
| Australian Truffle Storage | In the fridge, wrapped in absorbent paper in a sealed glass jar |
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What You'll Learn
- Where to find them: NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland, and Western Australia?
- When to look: Australia's truffle season runs from mid-June to late August?
- How to hunt: join a truffle hunt experience or use a trained dog?
- What to look for: French black truffles, Perigord truffles, and bianchetto white truffles?
- How to store them: wrap in absorbent paper in a sealed glass jar in the fridge?
Where to find them: NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Queensland, and Western Australia
New South Wales (NSW)
Truffle hunting experiences are available at various farms across NSW, including the Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands, Snowy Mountains, South Coast, and Orange. Robertson Truffles in the Southern Highlands holds the record for the largest Australian truffle, weighing 1.172 kilograms. Borrodell Estate in the Central West is another renowned pioneer of the truffle industry, offering truffle hunts and a five-course degustation feast with matched estate wines. RedGround Truffle Hunts in Oberon, Blue Frog Truffles near Canberra, Turalla Truffles in Bungendore, and Elvesgate Biodynamic Organic Truffle in Braidwood are other popular truffle-hunting destinations in NSW.
Victoria
The Yarra Valley, located an hour from Melbourne, is a popular truffle-hunting destination. The cool climate and volcanic red soil of the Yarra Valley are ideal for truffle production, and the region boasts a number of truffle farms offering experiences to visitors. The central Victorian Highlands is another region known for truffle hunting, where visitors can join truffle-sniffing dogs Winston and Lottie at Black Cat Truffles.
Tasmania
Tasmania is home to Australia's first black truffle, and The Truffle Farm Tasmania offers a signature truffle hunting experience where visitors can unearth their own truffles and enjoy them on a fresh pizza with a glass of Tasmanian wine. The farm also offers a truffle grading demonstration and a range of signature truffle products, including truffle ice cream.
South Australia
No information found.
Queensland
The Folly Truffles in Ballandean, Queensland, is the state's first commercial truffle farm. It is situated in the heart of Granite Belt Wine Country and offers truffle hunts during the harvest season, which typically runs from the end of June to August.
Western Australia
Western Australia produces the largest volume of truffles in Australia, and the Manjimup region is particularly renowned for its Perigord truffles, contributing around 80 to 90 percent of the country's supply. Truffle Hill in Manjimup is Western Australia's first truffière (truffle farm), offering truffle hunts, tastings, and a range of truffle-infused products. The Southern Forests region surrounding Manjimup is known for its diverse agriculture and pristine natural environment, making it a premier food-producing region in Australia.
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When to look: Australia's truffle season runs from mid-June to late August
Australia's truffle season runs from mid-June to late August, with the winter months being the best time to look for truffles. The truffle harvest in Australia begins in mid-June for the French Black Truffle, with truffles gradually ripening throughout the winter season. The ideal climate for truffle growth is a cool winter and a warm to hot summer.
The Australian truffle industry has experienced a spectacular rise in success, with increasing yields each year as the trees mature. Truffles are now grown in all Australian states, including New South Wales (NSW), Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Southern Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The Manjimup region of Western Australia produces the majority of Australia's Périgord truffles, contributing around 80 to 90 percent of the country's supply.
During the truffle season, there are various truffle hunt and tasting events held on truffle farms across the country. These events offer a unique opportunity to learn about truffle farming, participate in a truffle hunt, and indulge in truffle-infused dishes. For those who prefer a more casual experience, there are also Saturday afternoon forays where participants can enjoy hunting followed by truffle-laden gourmet pizza and drinks.
For those eager to get their hands dirty, there are truffle hunting experiences available at farms like Robertson Truffles in the Southern Highlands of NSW, RedGround Truffle Hunts in Oberon, and Blue Frog Truffles near Canberra. These farms offer the chance to explore truffle grounds, witness truffle dogs at work, and even purchase fresh truffles to take home.
So, if you're looking to join the truffle hunt during Australia's truffle season, plan your trip between mid-June and late August, and don't forget to bundle up for the chilly winter weather!
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How to hunt: join a truffle hunt experience or use a trained dog
How to Hunt Truffles in Australia
Join a Truffle Hunt Experience
Truffle hunt and tasting events are a great way to experience the world of truffle hunting. These events are typically held on truffle farms during the growing season, which in Australia is from mid-June to late August. Many farms across the country offer truffle hunting experiences, often followed by a tasting of truffle-infused dishes and wine. Some farms even offer multi-day experiences, such as Beneath the Surface in Western Australia, which includes luxury accommodation and a private chef.
Use a Trained Dog
Dogs are a truffle farmer's best friend when it comes to locating and harvesting truffles. A range of dog breeds can be trained to detect and mark ripe truffles by scent. Farmers may use their own dogs or hire professional harvesters with their dogs, who travel extensively during the truffle season to assist farmers in all regions.
If you're interested in joining a truffle hunt with dogs, there are several options in Australia:
- Robertson Truffles in the Southern Highlands of NSW offers hunts where you can watch dogs at work unearthing truffles.
- RedGround Truffle Hunts in Oberon, NSW, has over 700 truffle trees and dogs Sarge and Scout to help with the hunt.
- Black Cat Truffles in the Victorian Highlands offers the chance to meet and hunt with their truffle-sniffing dogs, Winston and Lottie.
- Truffle Hill in the Manjimup region of Western Australia offers hunts with veteran hunter Adrian Mielke and his canine companions.
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What to look for: French black truffles, Perigord truffles, and bianchetto white truffles
When hunting for French black truffles, also known as Périgord truffles, look for round, dark brown fruiting bodies with a black-brown skin and small pyramidal cusps. They normally reach a size of up to 10 centimetres (4 inches), but some may be larger. Their flesh is initially white and then becomes darker with white veins that turn brown as the truffle ages. The Périgord truffle is native to Southern Europe and prefers to grow near oak, lime, holm oak, French oak, hazel, cherry, and other deciduous trees. They can be found at a depth of 5 to 50 centimetres in loose calcareous soil.
The Manjimup region of Western Australia produces around 80 to 90 per cent of the country's Périgord truffles.
Bianchetto white truffles, on the other hand, can vary in colour from brown to orange, tan, black, or anything in between. Therefore, colour is not a good indicator of freshness when looking for these truffles. Instead, look for a firm texture and a strong truffle aroma. Bianchetto truffles are generally smaller, typically growing to about 15 grams in weight (the size of quail eggs). They are found in similar locations to Alba white truffles, such as under poplar and hazel trees, and their season usually follows that of the Alba variety.
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How to store them: wrap in absorbent paper in a sealed glass jar in the fridge
When storing truffles, it is important to remember that they are highly perishable, and their worst enemies are time and moisture. To store truffles in the short term, they should be refrigerated at a temperature of 35.5°F–37.5°F (2°C–3°C).
To prepare your truffles for the fridge, first, gently wrap them in absorbent paper, such as paper towels. It is important to change the paper towels daily to avoid the build-up of moisture and to retain the aroma of the truffles. Then, place the wrapped truffles in a dry, sealed container, such as a glass jar. Keep the container in the crisper compartment of your refrigerator, avoiding the cooler areas of the fridge.
It is also possible to store truffles in rice or salt, although these products will absorb the aroma of the truffles. If you do choose to use rice or salt, place a layer of rice or salt in the bottom of your airtight container, space the truffles out, and then continue to fill the container with rice or salt, covering the truffles.
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Frequently asked questions
Truffle hunts are available at farms and estates across Australia, including Robertson Truffles in NSW, Blue Frog Truffles in Canberra, Turalla Truffles in Bungendore, Elvesgate Biodynamic Organic Truffle in Braidwood, and RedGround Truffle Hunts in Oberon. The Manjimup region of Western Australia is also a popular destination for truffle hunters, as it produces around 80 to 90 percent of the country's Perigord truffles.
The truffle season in Australia typically runs from mid-June to late August.
Truffles are often located with the help of trained dogs, who can detect them by scent.
