Kamil Perry
Truffle cheese is made by adding truffles to cheese. Truffles are a type of fungus, similar to mushrooms, that grow underground near the roots of trees such as oak and hazelnut. They are typically found in France, Italy, China, the Middle East, parts of Oceania, and the Pacific Northwest of the US. The process of harvesting them is slow and labour-intensive, which, along with their unpredictable crop yields, makes them expensive. They are highly valued for their earthy, intricate flavour and aroma, which can be detected even when only a tiny amount is used.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Any type of cheese that has been flavoured with truffles |
| Types | Sottocenere, Truffle Tremor, Truffle and Salt Cheddar, Grafton Truffle Cheddar, Truffle Gouda, Moliterno Black Truffle Pecorino, Boschetto al Tartufo, Black Truffle |
| Flavour | Earthy, intricate, pungent garlicky, nutty, salty, sweet |
| Texture | Soft, creamy, semi-soft, hard |
| Colour | Black, white |
| Origin | Italy, France, California, Idaho, Vermont, the Netherlands, Tuscany, Sardinia |
| Ingredients | Cow's milk, sheep's milk, goat's milk, truffle shavings, truffle oil, black truffle salt, spices, herbs |
| Serving suggestions | Grilled cheese sandwiches, risotto, fondue, mac 'n' cheese, pizza, pasta, eggs, grilled bread, burgers |
| Beverage pairings | Sparkling wine, pinot noir, rosé, Lambrusco, Italian barbera |
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What You'll Learn
Truffle cheese types
Truffle cheese is made by infusing fresh truffle into any type of cheese. The most popular truffle cheese varieties include Sottocenere, Truffle Tremor, Truffle and Salt Cheddar, Grafton Truffle Cheddar, Truffle Gouda, and Moliterno Black Truffle Pecorino.
Sottocenere is a semi-soft Italian cheese made with cow's milk and truffles. It is then preserved with a coating of spiced beech ash. The ash rind on the Sottocenere locks in the truffle aroma and preserves the cheese for a long time without reducing its flavor. The cheesemaker mixes herbs and spices such as fennel, coriander, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves with the ash, although they barely affect the cheese. Sottocenere melts well and can be used in place of other melting cheeses when you want an earthy truffle flavor.
Truffle Tremor, a goat's milk cheese from Cypress Grove in California, has a soft, creamy, and fluffy texture with fragments of truffles throughout. It is milder than Moliterno and has an earthy flavor.
Truffle and Salt Cheddar is an aged, pasteurized cheddar made with black truffle salt. It is created by Ballard Family Dairy and Cheese in Idaho.
Grafton Truffle Cheddar is a classic Vermont cheddar flavored with truffle shavings.
Truffle Gouda is a Dutch Gouda, flavored with little flecks of black truffle. It is less sharp and sweet than some types of Gouda, allowing the truffle flavor to stand out.
Moliterno Black Truffle Pecorino is a raw sheep's milk cheese from Sardinia. It is covered with black truffle paste, giving it an earthy and nutty flavor. The distinctive layers of truffles can be seen throughout the cheese.
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Truffle hunting
Truffles are typically found growing wild in the soil of hills and forests, often near oak or hazelnut trees. The most famous truffles come from France and Italy, but they can also be found in China, the Middle East, parts of Oceania, and the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Truffle hunters, armed with trained dogs, roam these landscapes in search of the prized fungi. The dogs are experts at sniffing out the truffles, which can be buried deep underground, especially in the case of white truffles.
White truffles, which are stronger in flavour and have a pungent garlicky smell, are harder for dogs to find as they grow deeper in the soil. Black truffles, on the other hand, are more common but still rare. These lumpy fungi take years to mature, and their crop yields can be difficult to predict from year to year.
The process of truffle hunting is not for the faint of heart. It requires a good knowledge of the terrain, patience, and the assistance of well-trained animals with a keen sense of smell. The rewards, however, are great for those who are successful, as truffles are a highly prized ingredient that can elevate a simple dish into something extraordinary.
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Truffle farming
The process of truffle farming involves inoculating tree roots with truffle spores and creating the right conditions for the truffles to grow and thrive. This includes ensuring the soil has the correct pH level and nutrient composition, as well as providing adequate irrigation and protection from pests and diseases.
One method of truffle farming is through tree inoculation. This involves planting trees that have been specially treated with truffle spores. The spores grow into mycorrhizae, which are symbiotic structures formed between the tree roots and the fungi. This mutualistic relationship allows the tree to absorb more water and nutrients from the soil, while the truffle benefits from the carbohydrates produced by the tree through photosynthesis.
Another method is soil inoculation, where truffle spores are mixed directly into the soil. This method can be used to create truffle orchards or to enhance the truffle production in existing truffle-growing areas. However, this technique requires precise control of soil conditions and is more susceptible to pests and diseases.
The most prized truffles are those that are harvested from the wild, with the help of trained truffle-hunting dogs (and sometimes pigs) that can sniff out the pungent, garlicky aroma of the white truffles or the earthy, musty scent of the black truffles. These wild truffles are often found in the regions of France and Italy, but they also grow in China, the Middle East, parts of Oceania, and the Pacific Northwest of the US.
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How to serve truffle cheese
Truffle cheese is a highly exotic and aromatic cheese flavoured with fresh truffles, a type of fungus with an earthy, intricate flavour and aroma. When serving truffle cheese, it is best to keep the presentation simple so that the truffle flavour can be the focal point. Truffle cheese can be served with a sliced baguette or plain crackers. A glass of sparkling wine, pinot noir, or rosé can complement the experience of eating truffle cheese.
Semi-soft and hard truffle cheeses can be used to flavour a variety of dishes. For example, truffle cheese can be grated over eggs, pizza, pasta, or mac 'n' cheese. It can also be used in grilled cheese sandwiches, risotto, or melted into a fondue. Truffle cheese can be used in place of other semi-soft melting cheeses when one desires the earthy flavour of truffles in a dish. For instance, it can be used in place of goat cheese on a pizza, or on top of grilled garlic bread, or in a loaded pizza casserole.
Some popular types of truffle cheese and their serving suggestions include:
- Truffle Tremor: This pasteurized goat's milk cheese has a soft, fluffy texture and is flecked with bits of black truffle. It is made by Cypress Grove in California. Truffle Tremor can be enjoyed on its own, spread onto a piece of grilled bread, with a glass of chilled rosé.
- Sottocenere: This semi-soft Italian cheese has flavours of liquorice, nutmeg, coriander, cloves, cinnamon, and fennel coated onto the rind. Sottocenere melts well and can be used in place of other semi-soft melting cheeses when a dish calls for the earthy flavour of truffles. It can be paired with a glass of sparkling Lambrusco or Italian barbera. Its strong flavour can be balanced by adding a drop of honey or pairing it with Wagyu beef carpaccio.
- Truffle and Salt Cheddar: This is an aged, pasteurized cheddar made with black truffle salt. It is created by Ballard Family Dairy and Cheese in Idaho.
- Grafton Truffle Cheddar: This classic Vermont cheddar is flavoured with truffle shavings.
- Truffle Gouda: This Dutch Gouda is flavoured with little flecks of black truffle. It is less sharp and sweet than some types of Gouda, allowing the truffle flavour to shine through.
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Truffle cheese recipes
Truffle cheese is made by adding fresh truffles, truffle oil, or truffle salt to cheese. The most popular types of truffle cheese include Sottocenere, Truffle Tremor, Truffle Gouda, and Truffle Cheddar. Here are some recipes for these truffle cheeses:
Sottocenere
Originating in Venice, Sottocenere is made with cow's milk and truffles, then preserved with a coating of spiced beech ash. The cheesemaker mixes herbs and spices such as fennel, coriander, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves with the ash. The underlying sweet dairy flavor suggests scalded cream, while hints of vanilla soften the earthiness of the truffles. Sottocenere melts well, so it can be used in place of other semi-soft melting cheeses when you want the earthy flavor of truffles in a dish. For example, you can exchange goat cheese with Sottocenere on a pizza, use it on top of grilled garlic bread, or in a loaded pizza casserole. It also works for an intensely flavored fondue or as a cheese dip for fries, veggie crudités, or chips.
Truffle Tremor
This pasteurized goat's milk cheese has a soft, fluffy texture and is made by Cypress Grove in California. It is flavored with fragments of truffles throughout the cheese. Truffle Tremor is milder than Moliterno and can be enjoyed on its own with a glass of chilled, juicy rosé or grilled bread.
Truffle Gouda
This Dutch Gouda is flavored with little flecks of black truffle. It is less sharp and sweet than some types of Gouda, allowing the truffle flavor to stand out. It pairs well with a glass of sparkling wine or pinot noir.
Truffle Cheddar
Truffle and Salt Cheddar is an aged, pasteurized cheddar made with black truffle salt. It can be purchased from the Ballard Family Dairy and Cheese in Idaho or as Grafton Truffle Cheddar from Vermont.
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Frequently asked questions
Truffle cheese is any type of cheese that has been flavoured with truffles.
Truffles are a type of fungi that grow underground near oak or hazelnut trees. They are often found in France, Italy, China, the Middle East, parts of Oceania, and the Pacific Northwest of the US.
Most truffle cheeses have shavings of truffles in them, but sometimes they can be flavoured with truffle oil. The cheesemaker might also mix herbs and spices such as fennel, coriander, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves with the ash.
Truffle cheese has an earthy, intricate flavour and aroma.
Examples of truffle cheese include Sottocenere, Truffle Tremor, Truffle Gouda, and Truffle and Salt Cheddar.
