Black winter truffle

Tuber melanosporum Vitt.

Known as truffle of Norcia and in France as Périgord truffle, it is the king among black truffle. Thanks to its exquisite flavour it is also called black sweet truffle. Usually it is roundish but is common to find it with irregular shape. The surface is black with small polygonal warts. At peak of ripeness its gleba is black-purple with faint white veins. It emanates an aromatic pleasant smell. Harvest period: November – March.