Gourmet Edible Truffles Mushroom lovers would not want to miss out on a chance to eat the rarest and the most expensive type of fungi in the world the truffles. Studies show that truffles are included in the top 10 most expensive natural foods in the world which sells at a whopping US $150,000 and above per pound! A truffle s dirt or cleanliness has nothing to do with its freshness, smell, and flavor. So go for the clean ones. Not only does it make you pay less for a lighter pack of truffles, but it also allows you to see what you are actually buying. Check the truffles for softness and firmness. Truffles with soft spots tend to have worms in them. Truffle oils have been a practical substitute in using fresh truffles. Because it is so expensive, chefs came up with an idea to turn fresh truffles into oil or a concentrate which has all the taste and odor of truffle without worrying that the fresh truffle would go into waste over time. Truffle oils are being used to give flavor or to enhance the taste of truffles when used in cooking. There are also different truffle products which also provide the same pungent taste, like truffle oil, butter, honey, vinegar and paste. There s even a truffle vodka, which is not only used in cocktails but also in different dishes. If you have decided to purchase truffle products instead of truffles, then you expect less intense flavour. 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. Are you based somewhere in Europe? Then you re in luck because commercially significant truffles are more abundant in European countries than in America. You can start with making your canine friend retrieve a ball, then replace it with cheese. Once your dog learns to retrieve the cheese in exchange for a treat, hide the cheese and make the dog look for it. Finally, replace the cheese with a small truffle. Train your dog to find the truffle and to dig it up.