Since these are very expensive, gourmet restaurants only serve these because only the chefs can truly maximize the use of this pricey delicacy. And, even in restaurants, truffles are used sparingly not only because these are expensive but it also has a very pungent taste. For those who can afford to consume large amounts of truffles, these can be served and eaten raw. Summer black truffle - This truffle type may seem inferior to its winter counterpart, but it is still a palatable and flexible culinary wonder, so does other types of truffles. Usually harvested from May to August, summer black truffle is entirely a different species from the winter variety. It has a dark brown exterior and round crooked shape. When looking for truffles, small animal diggings around the tree roots would be a good indication that truffles are probably nearby. The scent could even attract animals bigger than the squirrel, like pigs and dogs. In the past, female pigs are used in Europe to look for truffles. It is because that these mushroom finds is said to mimic the scent of a male pig sex hormone. They are low in calories but contain high amount of vegetable protein, chitin, iron, zinc, fiber, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Calcium, minerals, vitamins B and C are commonly found in several mushrooms. Truffles are different from other mushrooms since it is a hypogean or an underground mushroom. That being said, you can more accurately say that people perceive the aroma of the truffle based on the olfactory response it evokes, not so much on its real smell. The aroma is actually more overwhelming than the flavor of the truffles, so much so that it becomes the flavor itself. It s what your taste buds sense rather than the actual flavor, unless the truffle variety has a taste that resembles that of a garlic and other strong-flavored spices. Italian White Truffles or Piedmont Truffles Found in the mountains of southern Yugoslavia and central and northern Italy, Piedmont truffles grow near beech, hazelnut, oak, and poplar trees. Truffle enthusiasts regard Italian white truffles as the best truffle mushrooms next to the Perigord. However, this truffle variety costs more than its superior counterpart.