Truffles for Good Health! Health Benefits of Truffles

By the end of winter and beginning of Spring, the journey of searching for “truffles” in Algeria starts. Fungi experts begin their search for this type of fungi which grows at this time of year. Whether for a commercial or touristy goal, many of these experts roam the Algerian desert in groups in search of this “precious” hunt. Truffles, or Terfas, are big in size, they grow below the soil. The mycelia of truffles form symbiotic, mycorrhizal relationships with the roots of several tree species including beech, oak, birch, and pine. They prefer argillaceous or calcareous soils that are well drained and neutral or alkaline. Truffles fruit throughout the year, depending on the species and can be found buried between the leaf litter and the soil. Thunder Plant Truffle means what is hidden, and the Arabic word for it (الكمأة)  is found in Arabic dictionaries. However, the meaning of the word suits the truffles, since they are hidden below the soil. Different names have been given to this type of fungus in different countries, according to its colour. Truffles have also been known as the “Thunder plants”, and it has been scientifically proven that thunder works on creating nitrogen oxides which melt with raindrops, forming the right atmosphere for the growth of truffles. Perhaps, very few people knew that it’s a type of fungi which grows underground at depths ranging between 2 to 50 cm. This plant does not appear at all above the ground, since it has no leaves, no roots, and no flowers. Truffles grow abundantly in Saudi Arabia, in the Levant, in North Africa,  France, and Italy. Italy, however, trains dogs on knowing the truffles’ locations, which is usually known by the cracks in the ground or by the presence of insects flying above the Truffles’ site. Types There are many types of truffles, such as The “white truffle” or “trifola d’Alba Madonna”, which is the size of a big orange, and Summer or burgundy truffle, which is smaller than the white truffles, and is much more delicious in many parts of the world, in addition to being more expensive. The black truffles, which is white from the inside is found beforethe actual truffles are found, and it  indicates that truffles will appear soon. It is the worst of truffles. In Algeria, however, we find many types of truffles. The best of them is black truffles, which looks like a piece of diamonds. The worst types of this plant in Algeria are the white truffles, or what is known as “Balhorsh”, and is bigger in size.

Read more at GreenArea.me: Truffles (Terfas) in Algeria… For Inspection, not Consumption http://greenarea.me/?p=111308