Five Amazing Facts About Truffles And How To Use Them In Cocktails

Five Amazing Facts About Truffles And How To Use Them In Cocktails

How To Use Truffles in Your Cocktails 

 

French gastronome Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin called truffles "the diamonds of the kitchen." But why are they so sought after, and what makes them so special? Firstly, they are unique, and secondly, they are rare, but there's a third and final factor too, and that's cultural. Here are some great reasons truffles have cemented deep in the traditional roots of European Haut Cuisine. 

 

  1. The Ancient Greeks dedicated a whole branch of science to studying truffles called hydnology. Some believed that truffles erupted into existence when lightning struck damp soil: That the combination of warmth and water made them literally spring from the earth. Greek physician, pharmacologist, botanist, and author of De Materia Medica, Dioscorides, thought they were tuberous roots. 

 

  1. The word 'truffle' originates from the Latin word tuber, which translates to 'lump' or 'swelling'. The Roman statesman Cicero, renowned for his elegant style and incredible knowledge, thought truffles were children of the earth. Pliny the Elder called truffles 'callus of the earth,' while Roman poet Juvenal was so enchanted that he said, "I would rather the corn failed than the truffle." Roman culinary expert Apicius included six truffle recipes in his De Re Coquinaria Book VII. 

 

  1. We now know they are, in fact, the fruiting body of the ascomycete fungus. But despite the desire to include them in dishes, truffles were considered so alluring for centuries because they defied domestication. If you wanted to use them, you needed to hunt them down in the wild, and expert foragers called truffle hunters are still treasured today. There are truffle farms now, where truffles are cultivated, but it takes 2-5 years to grow the initial spores and a further 7-10 years before harvest. 

 

  1. Truffles are meant to have aphrodisiac properties. Their powers were believed to be so potent that the church banned monks in the Middle Ages from eating them. As truffles grow underground, human noses are not sensitive enough to discover them in the wild. So we employ animals to help us root them out. Although you need to train dogs to seek out the rare treats, female pigs are natural truffle hunters. This works because the scent of truffles is exceptionally similar to a male (both pig and human) pheromone. This is why modern science believes truffles are so successful as an aphrodisiac. 

 

  1. Researchers have found through genetic analysis that truffles evolved from above-ground mushrooms. They suggest that truffles developed underground to avoid drying out in droughts. Because heating causes them to lose their texture and aroma quickly, truffles are typically served raw and shaved over warm meals. Many describe the taste of truffles as an earthy and garlic-like flavour with a deep and musky aroma. Black truffles are more adaptable in cooking and less rare, whereas white truffles are prized for their delicate form and earthy, pungent, musky, and much spicier flavour.

 


 

 

How to Use Truffles in Cocktails 

 

Use fats: The truffle aroma clings to cocktail ingredients containing fats such as eggs, oil and  cream. 

 

Use Condiments: You can suspend truffle in oil, butter or salt used in cocktail recipes as a garnish or with an emulsifier.

 

Shaving or Slicing: A truffle shaver helps you cut your truffle into paper-thin slices. This gives the most truffle flavour and gets the most servings out of your truffle. A grater or Microplane works too.

 

Preserve in Alcohol: Using a fresh truffle, shave or slice it and seal it in your chosen alcoholic suspension for about a week. If you don't want to go to the trouble, you can buy ready-made truffle-infused vodkas or gins. 

 

Use of Heat: Black truffles respond better to heat than white ones. Bare this in mind if you want to do an infusion or maceration. A slow, low heat using an indirect heat source like a bain-marie or souse vide will be fine, but don't let the temperature creep above 40 degrees Celsius. 

 

Use Quickly: The strength of the truffle flavour will naturally decrease over time. Don't keep them at room temperature. Instead, refrigerate them below 4ºC in an airtight container and place them on a bed of rice, which will absorb any moisture and preserve them for longer. Opening the container once or twice a day is crucial to avoid an accumulation of moisture and allow the truffles to breathe.

 

Use Truffle Aroma: Flavour Blaster has produced a truffle aroma with a long shelf life and authentic truffle flavour. If you want to try pairing truffles with your cocktails without the expert care and expense necessary of keeping these rare 'diamonds', then this is the best way to experiment. 

 

 

 

Flavour Pairing Ideas for Truffle Cocktails 

 

In European cuisine, the mantra 'what grows together goes together' truly applies to truffle pairing. A truffle Negroni, for example, includes Italian bitters and vermouths containing Italian herbs, woods, spices and fruits that perfectly match the earthen flavour of the truffle. Use a truffle-infused gin in three equal parts with Campari and sweet vermouth from Turin. 

 

Creamy fruits like melon, peach, coconut and banana will contrast the truffle flavours and help the truffle flavour carry. Pairing naturally works with creamy nut or spicy flavours too. For example, you could suspend truffle in honey to mix it with lemon juice, egg and a fruit juice like pear or peach to make a Sour. Or infuse great quality whiskey with truffle shavings before mixing it with a dash of cherry brandy and some chocolate bitters in a twisted Old Fashioned.  

 

Finally, complementary flavours include oniony, mustardy, or marine ingredients. So a Bloody Mary with truffle salt or a Gibson or Dirty Martini with suspensions of truffle oil would work wonders. 

Back to All Articles

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.

Explore our related articles

How the Hospitality Industry Can Reduce Waste to Save Money
How the Hospitality Industry Can Reduce Waste to Save Money
October 15, 2024 Amy Andrews

How the Hospitality Industry Can Reduce Waste to Save Money

In today’s competitive hospitality industry, cost-saving strategies are essential for staying profitable. Not only does waste reduction h...

Read more
How the Hospitality Industry Can Reduce Waste to Save Money
Dry Ice Doesn't Have To Be Scary! How JetChill Is Making Dry Ice Accessible, One Venue At A Time!
Dry Ice Doesn't Have To Be Scary! How JetChill Is Making Dry Ice Accessible, One Venue At A Time!
October 11, 2024 Amy Andrews

Dry Ice Doesn't Have To Be Scary! How JetChill Is Making Dry Ice Accessible, One Venue At A Time!

We have created a safer alternative to dry ice pellets, using patented technology to create a dry ice powder instead! As the powder is so...

Read more
Dry Ice Doesn't Have To Be Scary! How JetChill Is Making Dry Ice Accessible, One Venue At A Time!
Boost Your Restaurant's ROI: How to Use the Flavour Blaster Aroma Gun with Food
Boost Your Restaurant's ROI: How to Use the Flavour Blaster Aroma Gun with Food
October 10, 2024 Amy Andrews

Boost Your Restaurant's ROI: How to Use the Flavour Blaster Aroma Gun with Food

In today’s competitive restaurant landscape, the guest experience goes far beyond taste alone. Diners are increasingly seeking multisenso...

Read more
Boost Your Restaurant's ROI: How to Use the Flavour Blaster Aroma Gun with Food
flavour blaster cocktails and glassware with scented aroma filled bubbles being enjoyed at incognito bar London
Winter Prep For Hospitality Venues: How to Transition Your Venue for Colder Weather
October 1, 2024 Amy Andrews

Winter Prep For Hospitality Venues: How to Transition Your Venue for Colder Weather

As the temperature drops and the nights grow longer, hospitality venues must prepare for the transition from warm summer days to the col...

Read more
Winter Prep For Hospitality Venues: How to Transition Your Venue for Colder Weather
simone caporale with flavour blaster ice cream cone glassware cocktail with multi bubble garnish
It's Not Just A Bubble - Why Our Aroma Garnishes Are So Effective On Food And Drink
September 30, 2024 Amy Andrews

It's Not Just A Bubble - Why Our Aroma Garnishes Are So Effective On Food And Drink

Time and time again, we hear people say "It's just a bubble gun" - but it's so much more than that! ⠀⠀We created the Flavour Blaster Arom...

Read more
It's Not Just A Bubble - Why Our Aroma Garnishes Are So Effective On Food And Drink
Why Jetchill is a Safer Choice Over Dry Ice Pellets
Why Jetchill is a Safer Choice Over Dry Ice Pellets
September 27, 2024 rebecca todd

Why Jetchill is a Safer Choice Over Dry Ice Pellets

For venues where customer safety and staff wellbeing are paramount, the Jetchill Twin Probe is a game-changing alternative to traditiona...

Read more
Why Jetchill is a Safer Choice Over Dry Ice Pellets
flavour blaster pro 2 and mini 2 aroma guns for making smoke filled edible bubbles
Flavour Blaster Pro 2 vs Flavour Blaster Mini 2: Which Aroma Gun Suits Your Venue Best?
September 26, 2024 Amy Andrews

Flavour Blaster Pro 2 vs Flavour Blaster Mini 2: Which Aroma Gun Suits Your Venue Best?

The Flavour Blaster Aroma Gun has become a must-have tool in the hospitality industry, known for adding captivating, aromatic bubbles to ...

Read more
Flavour Blaster Pro 2 vs Flavour Blaster Mini 2: Which Aroma Gun Suits Your Venue Best?
7 Quick and Easy Drink Ideas for Your Upcoming Homecoming Event Menu - Make Your Venue Unforgettable With Flavour Blaster Aromas and JetChill Dry Ice!
7 Quick and Easy Drink Ideas for Your Upcoming Homecoming Event Menu - Make Your Venue Unforgettable With Flavour Blaster Aromas and JetChill Dry Ice!
September 24, 2024 Amy Andrews

7 Quick and Easy Drink Ideas for Your Upcoming Homecoming Event Menu - Make Your Venue Unforgettable With Flavour Blaster Aromas and JetChill Dry Ice!

Homecoming events are the perfect time to impress alumni, students, and guests with drinks that go beyond the ordinary. By incorporating ...

Read more
7 Quick and Easy Drink Ideas for Your Upcoming Homecoming Event Menu - Make Your Venue Unforgettable With Flavour Blaster Aromas and JetChill Dry Ice!