Tasting Truffles in San Miniato
San Miniato is Tuscany’s major truffle capital so this is the place to breathe in the scent of truffles, enjoy a truffle feast, and maybe even go on a simulated truffle hunt. The town is famous for the highly prized white truffle (Tuber Magnatum Pico). The 400-odd official truffle-hunters, known as tartufai, still dream of discovering a record-breaking truffle. San Miniato boasts the discovery of the biggest truffle ever found, a tuber weighing over two kilos unearthed in 1954.
The truffling season runs from mid-September to Christmas but peaks in November. Sniffed out by dogs, the truffle is dug out of the ground with a type of pole called a vangheggia. Given that the truffles are found in the same place every year, the individual truffle-hunters are naturally very secretive about their patches. Their secrets are handed down through the generations, ensuring that their hidden trails in the holm oak and poplar woods remain secret. The Association of Truffle-hunters of the San Miniato Hills is fiercely protective of their interests. Even so, you can take the opportunity to join a simulated truffle hunt, booked through the tourist office or independently. Book a truffle hunt through Barbialla Nuova, on their local estate, with the experience ending in a wine-and-cheese tasting.
In November for three weekends, the medieval town of San Miniato becomes the capital of white truffles. This period represents the peak of the white truffle season, when these tasty tubers are at their very best. The White Truffle Festival, known as the Mostra Mercato Nazionale del Tartufo Bianco di San Miniato, draws over a hundred thousand visitors to its celebrations. During the festival, chefs set up open-air tasting stations, focusing on autumnal fare and foodie trends. The best truffle dish is probably the simplest, the classic tagliolini al tartufo bianco, pasta with white truffles. Even so, local truffle dishes can be creative, such as crepe stuffed with ricotta and walnut in a truffle sauce. La Taverna dell’Ozio is a good place to try truffle dishes.
Address: Fondazione San Miniato Promozione, Piazza del Popolo 1, 56028 San Miniato
Tel: +39 571 42745
www.sanminiatopromozione.it
Barbialla Nuova-truffeljacht, via Casastada 49, Montaione.
Tel: +39 0571 677 004
www.barbialla.it
