It s because they are extremely difficult to find. Unlike typical mushrooms that grow on the bark or exposed roots of trees, truffle mushrooms grow underground. That means you can t see them easily unless you dig the forest grounds. Finding truffles involves a hike in the woods. Is this your first time to do so? Make sure to remove all dirt on the truffle before eating. Wash it with water and brush it lightly. There are truffle brushes which are meant to remove mold and dirt. Soft truffles like the Italian white are better left un-brushed. Truffles should be consumed immediately after harvest. Although, it could lat for several days placed in a refrigerator, it should be ideally used as soon as possible. Host plants - There are truffle businesses, like the Garland, that do not only buy gourmet mushrooms and truffles, but they also sell inoculated trees to serve as host plants or trees for the mushrooms. They usually sell oaks and hazelnut trees which are inoculated with Black Perigord or Black Burgundy truffle, or whatever variety will be grown. If you re interested in making a hobby out of hunting truffles, then you should start with learning the sources of truffles. If you think your first stop for finding truffles is in France, think again. In fact, you can find truffles in different parts of North America, Europe, Asia, Middle East, and North Africa. It is also found in oak trees unlike other types that can be found in other types of trees. Black Truffles are hunted from late autumn to early winter. During these seasons, Black Truffles grow at their best ranging from 7 to 9 centimeters in diameter and could weigh from 80 grams to 100. Because of the rarity of this mushroom, the production of Black Truffles has been made almost exclusively in the European countries. Wash them with water and brush them softly to remove soil that s stuck in them. Don t store the truffles for too long, lest they ll lose their flavor. Truffles easily diminish the strength of their flavor, so consume them soon after you purchased them. Use truffles sparingly. They re not like garlic or bell peppers that you can add to your dishes in generous amounts.