Why go truffle hunting and tasting in Istria?
Most of the ‘fresh truffles’ served at restaurants around the world are ‘previously frozen truffles’ because truffles only have at most 10 days shelf life after being dug out of the ground. The aroma and taste from truly fresh, 30 minutes out of the ground, truffles is unparalleled. And you can only get that from going truffle hunting and cook it right afterwards. Istria, Croatia is undoubtedly the most accessible place in the world for such truffle hunting and fresh truffle tasting adventure, a 10/10 Sensational + Well experience.
White truffles grow wild in Istria, Croatia too
White truffles are much more expensive than black truffles, for their aroma, rarity, and the shorter shelf life. While black truffles grow naturally in many regions, white truffles are very hard to find.
White truffles (Tuber Magnatum Pico) are mainly found in the forests of the Piedmont, Tuscany and Umbria in Italy. It’s commonly known as “Piedmont Truffle” or the “Alba White Truffle” or “Italian White Truffle”, but white truffles naturally grow in Istria too.
Where are truffles found in Istria?
The first truffle in Istria was first found by an Italian truffle hunter near Livade unintentionally while he’s on vacation with his truffle hunting dog in Istria in 1925. In the 1930s, first truffle hunting businesses were established, and Istrians under Yugoslavia rule traded truffles with Italians for Italian food.
Motovun Forest is where the truffles, especially white truffles are found in Istria, for its unique and perfect habitat for truffles. The forest spans across the central part of the northern region of Istria. Movotun, Livade, Buzet are the three main truffle towns along the Forest. You’ll find truffle producers and truffle shops in these towns.
Truffle hunting is the most accessible in Istria
Truffle hunting in Italy can be very challenging and expensive. Truffle hunting in Istria, however, is easily accessible and half the price or less than in Italy. And as long as you go in season, the hunting dogs usually find truffles.
Some Istrians living around the Motovun Forest have their own truffle hunting dogs for personal use.
Truffle hunting tours in Istria, Croatia
While there are very small companies or side businesses offering truffle hunting tours, midsize to large companies (large for Istria) tend to be more responsive for booking, and may offer a more robust and reliable hunting experience as they may have more generational knowledge and backup solutions.
How much is truffle hunting in Istria?
The truffle hunting tours are around 90 Euros per person (2023) including a cooking and tasting experience after the hunt. You may also find truffle hunting only tours for about 50 Euros.
The best truffle hunting tours in Istria:
Pietro&Pietro (Natura Tartufi) in Buzet
You will spend a good two hours in secret spots in the forest hunting for truffles. The family business started in the 1930s. They have a more upscale touch but surprisingly better pricing. Pietro&Pietro shop is the meeting point for the truffle hunting tour.
Miro Tartufi in Motovun
Miro also has a piece of land where he inoculated the young roots with truffle mycorrhizal fungi spores more than a decade a ago. He takes tours there for demonstration purposes. Miro started his truffle business in 1990s. Miro Tartufi shop is the meeting point for the truffle hunting tour.
Karlić Tartufi in Buzet
Karlić family truffle business started in 1966 and the business expanded in the 90s. Karlić Tartufi is very committed and does well promoting their tours and products. Karlić Tartufi shop is the meeting point for the truffle hunting tour.
Small group truffle hunting tour experience in Istria
Truffle hunting and truffle tasting is an ultimate foodie adventure. What can you expect out of a truffle hunting tour?
Learn the habitat where truffles grow
The guide will explain the habitat and history of the Motovun Forest, and you will see exactly where the hunting dogs find truffles.
See truffle hunting dogs in training
These truffle hunting dogs are not born with specific hunting capabilities and are not purebred. Obviously they need to have the right build for the job, and the owners will training them every single day for years. On the truffle hunting tour, you’ll be able to see how the guide trains a hunting dog in training to learn from an experienced one.
Truffle digging is a delicate job
The hunting dogs sniff and dig for you first, but towards the end, the guide will need to dig and grab the truffle before the dogs eat it. They know it’s delicious too.
The cooking and preparation that brings the most out of truffle
Low heat cooking actually brings the most flavor out of truffles. The truffle shaving you see at restaurants is just for show. You will learn how to best cook truffle, typically truffle omelette, and how to put together dishes using truffle products.
When is truffle season in Istria?
The prime truffle season is fall, from September to November, when you can taste both fresh autumn black truffle (Tuber Uncinatum) and white truffle (Tuber Magnatum Pico). The truffle festival “Zigante Truffle Days” is every weekend in October in Livade. Be aware that this is also the busiest season in Istria. The shops will be crowded and you won’t be able to have a free tasting at your own pace.
May to August is the season for black summer truffle (Tuber Aestivum Vittadini), which is the mildest. December to March is the season for black winter truffle (Tuber Melanosporum Vittadini), which is more intense than summer and autumn black truffles.
Pro tips in buying truffle products
Here is the reality check: the best truffles are sold fresh for the best profitability. The unsold fresh truffles, usually smaller or less mature, are used to make truffle products. But these truffle products made in Istria are generally more genuine or better quality than those made in Italy, and cheaper.
Buy truffle products from Istrian truffle producers with processing facilities
You can easily find black truffle slices preserved in a jar of olive oil in truffle regions in Europe. The mid-price ones we bought in Tuscany have artificial flavoring in it to enhance the flavor from lower quality truffle, whereas the ones in Istria don’t.
Pietro&Pietro (Natura Tartufi), Zigante Tarfufi, and Karlić Tartufi process and produce local Istrian truffle products. These are the big trusted brands. When buying from smaller shops or brands, ask them if the products are made in Istria because otherwise Croatia export fresh truffles to Italy and import truffle products from Italy.
The truffle oil myth
Many chefs will tell you don’t buy truffle oil because it is oil with artificial truffle flavoring and not made from truffle at all. This is true for most truffle oil products around the world. In Istria, it’s possible to find truffle oil made with olive oil and natural truffle flavoring, meaning an extract from truffle is used. Besides, Istrian olive oil is superb. When in Istria, ask the producer which is used for their truffle oil.
