The oils vary in staying power, price, and taste. When choosing truffle oil, buy small amounts of a few brands and sample them. Store up to three days tightly wrapped in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Brush loose dirt and dust off the surface before using. White truffles are almost always eaten raw, usually shaved over pasta, rice, or eggs, while the more pungent black truffles are usually served cooked.
White truffles come from Italy's Piedmont region.
Soon, farmers in the American south plan to begin harvesting white truffles. In southern France, hunters without dogs or pigs look for the presence of a certain species of fly, which is attracted to the smell and lays eggs along the base of truffle-bearing trees. Some well-trained hunters even claim to recognize a tree with a good truffle supply by its shape, which is said to be stunted or squat. As soon as a truffle is located, the farmer carefully brushes back the dirt and checks ripeness. If the fungus isn't ripe, it is covered with dirt for future harvest.