Looking for Truffles

[cookingdaily]

I dont know how many of you truffle hunt? but i'm looking for some truffles if you have some and want to part with them that would be awesome or if you know where i might go pick some up let me know.

Thanks in advance

[pianoman9701]

PM sent

[Bigshooter]

I have bought truffles from here http://www.oregonmushrooms.com/c-65-fresh-truffles.aspx

I have also bought there truffle butter.  It is great when melted over a grilled steak.

[luvmystang67]

I would be interested in that particular "PM Sent"...

I wanna find these buggers.

[pianoman9701]

Oregon black truffles grow in OR, WA, and CA, maybe ID, as well. They grow under the Doug firs. Usually, you can find them surround younger 8-12 year old Dougs. Look for vole holes within about 1 foot of the trunk. Truffles will usually be within 6-8" of the surface. When you find them, GPS the tree because they'll grow there each year and around other trees in that immediate vicinity. Elevation is usually above 1K and below 4K, but sometimes lower. The coast produces the most, but the Cascades are also productive.

[Angry Perch]

East slope of Cascades also, or just wet side?

[pianoman9701]

Wet side is all I know. Could be east side as well. 

[Angry Perch]

Sounds like finding a needle in a haystack to begin with. I'd hate to waste time digging in the wrong haystack.

[cookingdaily]

Thanks for the help Pianoman and bigshooter

[JimmyHoffa]

For truffles, I have heard elsewhere that if you find a Doug Fir that has a lot of needles fallen, to check on the north side of the tree.  Any accuracy in that?  Have also heard to look around the base to see if squirrels have been dropping their food, as they like truffles and will drop them or pieces and they start growing in those areas.

[pianoman9701]

For truffles, I have heard elsewhere that if you find a Doug Fir that has a lot of needles fallen, to check on the north side of the tree.  Any accuracy in that?  Have also heard to look around the base to see if squirrels have been dropping their food, as they like truffles and will drop them or pieces and they start growing in those areas.

I hadn't noticed the north side more than the rest, but it may be. I haven't seen the squirrel sign indicate truffles as much as looking for vole holes around the base of the firs.

[Ridge Hunter]

This sounds interesting, thanks for sharing. Tagging for later.

[TONTO]

 Never found a black, but the whites aren't too difficult to find.

[Bigshooter]

Where do you find them.

[TONTO]

 If I remember corectly some of those in the pic were false, this was two years ago, only pic I have since losing my camera/hd card. You want to find thinned doug fir reprod stands about 15-20 years old. Signs of squirrel activity is a plus, like nut shells and shredded cones. The spores are spred by sqirrels. Rake back the needle duff with a three or four pronged gardning rake, the truffles will be between the needle duff and dirt. There are false truffles so if in doubt slice it open. If it has a tight grain marble pattern, truffle, a gray or black sponge apperance toss it. After findig a few confirmed truffles you should be able to tell the diffrance, the true truffle feels abit firmer. Replace the duff and you should be able to find truffles in the same area the next year. As far as the north side of the tree I haven't noticed a prefferance and have found them all around the tree, not every tree has a truffle but useually where I find one I'll find more. There is a lot of luck involved but after a while you'll just sort of sense which trees look truffly. Squirrles will dig them up and eat them so if you find where they have been digging the squirrle may have got that one but there could be more around. Late December through early March is about the time frame, they should be pretty ripe by now, but if not can be ripened in a closed jar. Once ripe they don't last long but can be stored in oil or rice, the oil or rice will take on the truffle essence.