Uses of Truffles Experts say that there are so many types of truffles. And although none of these types are known to contain any type of poison, not all truffle types are considered gourmet delicacies. These types include the White Truffles which are the most rare among the types of truffles; the Black Truffles, which is very expensive because it can only be found in an oak tree; the Chinese Truffles which are the most available type because it grows bountifully in China and are often being exported to various parts of the world; and the Summer Truffles, which have milder aroma compared to other winter truffle types. Yes, you can find them in every part of the world, but it takes a great deal of hard work, time, patience, and knowledge about various truffle species to be able to collect these precious finds. And you can correctly guess that it s their being elusive that makes them seductive, what with the human nature that drives people to want anything that is difficult to attain. If you have decided to purchase truffle products instead of truffles, then you expect less intense flavour. It may even fade away quickly. Truffle products should be kept away from direct sunlight and should be consumed immediately to achieve best results. If it is difficult to search truffles and truffle products in your location, then the best option would be to check online sites. In fact, there are a very limited number of areas where truffles grow and are being cultivated. These are mostly in Europe including Italy, France, Slovenia and Croatia; in the United including Washington and Oregon; in Asia mostly in some parts of the Middle East and in North Africa. In these areas, truffles which usually grow about 30 centimeters or approximately one foot are found under the ground. But it is not the entire mushroom or fungi, the truffle is only the fruit. The body of the fungi is the hyphae found in the soil. It is thought that the reason why truffle mushrooms grow belowground is to protect themselves from forest fires and during extreme temperatures during frosty periods. Truffles can be found in countries like France, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, some parts in the Middle East and North Africa. Recently, only 25 to 150 tons of truffles are harvested every year. Many decades ago, harvest of truffles total to hundreds or even thousands. Why is that so? A truffle starts to grow only after about seven years, and the tree where a truffle grows can produce them for only 15 to 30 years. That explains why truffles come with hefty price tags.