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# 85 NOVEMBER 21 , 2016
# 85 November 21 2016
read more about #Italian Traditions
ITALIAN TRADITIONS:
86th Alba White
Truffle MarkeT
By Folclore.it
The Alba White Truffle World Market is
the largest international exhibition of
truffles coming from the Piedmontese
hills of Langhe, Roero and Monferrato.
Every day, thousands of batches of truffles, freshly picked, are displayed and
sold by the "trifolao" themselves. Before
the market opens to the public, in order
to guarantee quality and secure purchases, each truffle is checked by the specific "Quality Commission", which is available to customers throughout the Fair’s
duration with the "Costumer Information
Desk" function. At the Alba White Truffle
World Market all truffles weighing more
than 10 grams are sold in a numbered
bag giving a warranty and the right to return and exchange whenever the truffle
is not satisfactory.
FOOD AND WINE EXCELLENCES FROM
PIEDMONT
Thanks to the AlbaQualità exposition, the
Alba White Truffle World Market is the year, AlbaQualità selects over a hundred
place to meet and experience the Pied- exhibitors from all over the region, espemontese gastronomic excellence. Every cially, from the Langhe and Roero. The
from Langhe and Roero. Here you can
sample raditional dishes made with fresh
ingredients and raw materials displayed
and sold in the exhibition booths - truffle
included - designed to accompany and
enhance the flavours of the White Truffle of Alba. The wine-tasting area, operated by the AIS sommeliers (the Italian
Sommelier Association), is located in the
Grande Enoteca of the Langhe and Roero, an area designed to offer a sample
exhibition stands offer a comprehensive of the extraordinary wine heritage of the
and complete overview of the gastrono- territory.
mic, vine-growing and wine-producing
quality of the area, with particular atten- Throughout the autumn period the Whition to crafts and innovative productions. te Truffle of Alba can be purchased in
Among the thousands of products in the city's specialty shops.
tasting and for sale you can find wines,
spirits, liqueurs, cheeses, meats, fresh ALBA WHITE TRUFFLE
and dried pasta, bakery products, tra- Spherical in shape, often slightly flatteditional sweets, chocolate, vegetables, ned and irregular, the truffle has a pale
products containing Nocciole Piemonte yellow or ochreish outer layer known as
IGP (Piedmontese hazelnuts), Castagne the peridium. The flesh, or gleba, is run
di Cuneo IGP (Cuneo chestnuts), special through by many white, branching veins,
flours, mushrooms as well as - of course and varies in colour from milk white t o
- truffles.
dark pink to brownish. Truffles vary in
size. They are collected from late sumTASTING AREA AND WINE SHOP
mer, throughout autumn and up until
Inside the Alba White Truffle World Mar- early winter.
ket a specific area is reserved for catering and tasting of the renowned wines This fungus only grows wild, and no cultivation techniques have been developed so far.
Storage
In the refrigerator (3-6°C) wrapped in a
paper towel and stored in a sealed glass
container. A fresh truffle can be kept for
around a week, but should be consumed
as soon as possible.
68 | WE THE ITALIANS
WE THE ITALIANS | 69
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