Truffles are a delicacy that comes from the earth in the form of powder. It is usually made from the sap of the roots of the Syzygium aromaticum tree, as well as from a variety of fungus species. A truffle, also known as black truffle, is the underground ovary of a subterranean fissure-verrucous fungus, primarily one of the Tinea Fabrica subspecies. In addition to the Syzygium species, other fungi are classed as truffles such as Geopora, Leucangium, Choiromyces, Lactarius, and a hundred others. The most popular of these is black truffle salt, which is obtained by soaking dry pieces of the mushrooms in salty water for a few days.
Most people think that when you put black truffles on a dish, the flavors will marry and you will have a delectable treat. This is because black truffle salt has a distinctive taste, distinct to its particular species alone. Among all the varieties, however, the black version tends to be most sought after.
While real truffles may be very expensive, the price of this artificial product is relative to its popularity. This is why fake products are quite successful, especially in restaurants and hotels where people would want to save some money. Moreover, since restaurants tend to serve several dishes, they can afford to stock up on fake versions of truffles. This way, their food customers do not complain about not being able to find the real thing while they are trying to enjoy a bite to eat at their favorite restaurant.
In addition, there are many people who like to eat white truffles, which are made from a variety of white chocolates. Because white chocolates are very similar to white wine, many people find that it does not matter what kind they get as long as it is good. In many cases, people also purchase fake caviar or conchas for this reason. The conchas or Ceviche from Spain, for example, can often be found on the menu of fine restaurants all around the world, while fake caviar from France can be found in a number of places.
Another use for black truffle salt is in flavoring desserts. Almost any kind of cake can be enhanced by using salt instead of sugar or butter. When added right to the cake batter, the flavor of the dessert becomes even stronger. For instance, sponge cakes, apple desserts, and chocolate cakes can all be made more delicious by using this salt instead of other flavors.
Of course, another popular use for truffle salt comes in savory recipes. Salads, scrambled eggs, omelets, chili, popcorn, scrambled eggs in a tortilla, potato chips, and many more savory dishes can be enhanced by this salty treat. It has even been used in savory sausage recipes, although this is mostly seen in commercialized versions. It is believed that truffle salt was invented by a French chef in his 20s who was experimenting with different flavors when he was creating scrambled eggs for the first time. After years of trying different things with the eggs, he finally settled on creating a flavor that is synonymous with France truffle salt.
Black or unrefined sea salt is often used as table salt. Because of its content of minerals and trace amounts of magnesium, it is considered to be a far healthier alternative than other table salts. Many vegetarians and vegans use it in recipes, as well, because of its high mineral content and lack of sodium (this is also why it's commonly found in vegetarian cooking). There are no major health risks associated with using unrefined sea salt and it works just as well for many cuisines.
In fact, truffle salt has become so highly prized that some countries have banned its sale and others fear that it could cause a food-related crisis. However, there are still many people who enjoy the delicious flavor of truffle salt, which is why they continue to buy it despite the controversy. For those of you who do not have this salty treat in your kitchen, it is time to get out and try some of these great recipes that call for it!