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Greek truffles are a unique Greek food that is made with pure Greek ingredients. The main ingredient in Greek truffles is Greek olive oil which is combined with Greek honey and Greek nuts to create a sweet, nutty flavor.
Greek truffles are also known for their intense flavor which makes them an ideal snack or dessert choice. Greek truffles can be served as a stand-alone treat or added to yogurt, ice cream, cakes, and other desserts for an extra boost of flavor. If you’re looking for something special to add to your meals, Greek truffle is definitely worth trying!
A brief history of Greek truffle.
George Setkos, president of Western Macedonia Mycophiles, was the first to introduce a truffle hound to Greece, bringing a trained dog from Italy in 2001. Unfortunately, the dog met an untimely demise, succumbing to purposeful poisoning before it could even exhibit its abilities. George Setkos and Panagiotis Diamantopoulos go to Italy in March 2006 to go truffle hunting with expert truffle gatherers and dog trainers. They return to Greece with perhaps 60 truffles and Dollie, a truffle dog.
Panagiotis Panagiotidis, a member of the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Mycophiles, meets experienced Italian truffle hunter and dog trainer Pino, Donatiello in the same year, and the two create a formidable team. Soon, new groups of truffle gatherers are formed, in addition to the original Setkos, Panagiotidis, and Donatiello, who are armed with trained dogs purchased in Greece, imported from Italy, or trained by the gatherers themselves.
Truffle hunting in Greece.
Today, Greek truffles are as good as those from Italy since the soil and climatic conditions are comparable, allowing for the development of great subterranean mushrooms.
In Greece, you may find a wide variety and a great number of truffles in the wooded regions and mountains of Grevena, Ioannina, Arta, Xanthi, and Kavala. Precious white autumn, black autumn truffle, truffle, white spring truffle, precious black winter truffle, and black summer truffle. Out of them, truffle oil can be produced!
The soil and climatic conditions in these mountainous regions of northern and northwest Greece are perfect for the underground development of truffles.
Labradors, Griffons, Epagneul Breton, English Pointers, and the Italian Lagotto are the required truffle-hunting dog breeds.
Truffle hunting has been a popular pastime in Greece for over 15 years, as more and more Greeks search for the delectable subterranean fungus for themselves. Collecting truffles are among the most costly items on the worldwide market, in addition to being among the most delectable. They are an uncommon item, yet they are rather abundant in Greece.
In recent years, an increasing number of Greeks have developed a love for truffles and are prepared to pay a premium for them or even search for them.
Why is Greek truffle important?
Greek truffles are in no way inferior to the similar types harvested in other nations with a longer heritage than ours, which is why they are in great demand in all of these locations. Truffles of exceptional quality, extraordinary size, and distinct scent are picked in several locations of Greece, from the south to Thrace and Macedonia in the north.
Furthermore, being the southernmost Mediterranean nation generating some of the most expensive truffle species, Greece outperforms other truffle-growing countries in terms of the early production of certain truffles and late production of others. This implies that several kinds of truffles are even more sought after during specific seasons due to low or non-existent production in other nations.
Will climate change affect Greek truffle production?
According to the agreement, considerable changes will occur in both systematic truffle cultivation and uncultivated truffles in the future decades.
Climate change will have an impact on the existing situation. It is extremely conceivable that truffle species associated with certain locations may discover more suitable soils in areas previously unknown for truffle cultivation. Less sensitive species may adapt more easily to changing environments, whilst more sensitive kinds may experience significant alterations in growth.
Enjoy them before it’s too late!
