mating behavior in the sow. Some people are
unable to smell androstenone, while others
can and may find it unappetizing.) White
truffles have a stronger, pungent, somewhat
garlicky aroma thanks to a number of unusual
sulfur compounds. The flavor of black truffles
is generally thought to be enhanced by gentle
cooking, while the flavor of white truffles,
though strong, is fragile, and best enjoyed by
shaving paper-thin slices onto a dish just
before serving. Such cross sections of truffle
reveal its inner structure: a network of fine
veins running between masses of spore-
bearing cells.
Truffle anatomy. Like mushrooms, the truffle
is the fruiting body of a fungus; unlike
mushrooms, it remains underground. The