It’s Truffle Season! Indulge in Fresh Truffles at Home this Winter

Mouths salivate at the sight of these, wallets whimper and foodies go weak at the knees. Yes that time has come everyone, welcome to truffle season!

Truffles are definitely up there with some of the most indulgent foods in the world. These pieces of subterranean ascomycete fungus are known for their pungent aroma and strong flavour. Black truffles are less pungent than white truffles but the black truffles have an amazingly intoxicating flavour.

Every person who enjoys consuming truffles will have their own words to describe the experience – earthy, musky, nutty and even mysterious.

The Truffle & Wine Company were the first to harvest truffles in Western Australia in 2004 and boy have they put our very own Manjimup truffles on the map! The first milestone was the 1 kilogram truffle they unearthed in 2005 and then in 2008 an estimated 600 kilograms of black truffles were uncovered in the rich Manjimup ground with this figure rising every year. They are the largest producer of Superior Perigord Truffles in the southern hemisphere with over 13,000 hazel and oak trees.

Just In Time Gourmet have a close association to The Truffle and Wine Co in Manjimup – we are their Western Australian distributor for their truffle products and some fresh truffles, and we are proud to be associated with this local business and their fine, gourmet truffles.

Fresh Truffles available to purchase in Perth in 2023

Fresh truffles have been called the diamond of the kitchen in top restaurants around the world but this year Just In Time Gourmet are bringing this delicacy into your kitchen at home. We are proud to be able to offer fresh black truffles direct from our website. Simply contact us here.

We receive weekly shipments from The Truffle & Wine Co during truffle season and make deliveries once or twice a week to make sure you get the freshest truffles possible.

For the 2023 season, you can find fresh truffles in the following stores:

• The Re-Store (Leederville & Northbridge)
• Fresh Provisions (Bicton & Mount Lawley)
• Rustico Gourmet Grocer (Riverton)
• Peaches Fresh Foods (South Fremantle)
• Mycro (Osborne Park)

Perth Restaurants using fresh truffles

Many Perth restaurants have specific truffle dinner evenings that you can attend throughout the season, which generally runs from late May to early August. We are continuously delighted by the different approaches to using truffles in local Perth restaurants. Our taste buds are always tempted and inspired by the new recipes each year.

Truffle Hill will be doing some collab dinners during June to August which you read more about and book via the WA Good Food Guide website.

How to keep your truffles fresh

Our top tips for keeping your delicious truffles fresh at home are:

• Truffles continuously lose moisture and weight and are best stored in the refrigerator, with each truffle wrapped in a separate paper towel.
• If your truffles develop white mould on them, brush it off under cool, running water.
• For best results, use your fresh truffles within 7-10 days of them being harvested.
• Fresh truffles are seasonal, so get to know your local truffle supplier and get your truffles on time!

For more advice on looking after your prized truffles, check out The Truffle & Wine Co’s Storage Tips.

Trying truffles for the first time?

If you are keen to try truffles for the first time, a great way to start is by purchasing truffle products. Here at Just In Time Gourmet we have a special truffle hamper and a huge range of individual truffle products that can introduce you to the fine aromas of truffles, before you extend your taste buds further to fresh truffles when they are in season.

What to do with fresh truffles in your kitchen

A lot of people reserve their truffle eating for fine dining restaurants but here at Just In Time Gourmet we say eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Truffles are not a supporting act, fresh truffles need to be the star of the dish. The best and easiest tip when cooking with fresh black truffles is to remember that they truly shine when grated over a warm dish with a decent amount of fat – think butter, cheese and pasta.

Here are our top tips for eating truffles:

• Truffles are a flavour enhancer because they contain glutamic acid, which means they go with any kind of food, especially savoury foods.
• Try adding truffles to simple dishes that include the ingredients of eggs, potatoes, rice, Jerusalem artichokes, mushrooms, chicken, pasta and celeriac.
• Include fats or oils in your cooking with truffles as these will help retain the distinct flavour.
• Shave your truffles as finely as possible, as this will promote more flavour to be released.

We chatted with some of Perth’s favourite food bloggers to ask what their must-try fresh truffle dish is to indulge in at home. Here’s what they told. us:

Gluten Free Truffled Vegan Mac & Cheese by Chomp Chomp

Martine is a dedicated gluten free Perth blogger and when we spotted her Gluten Free truffled Vegan Mac and Cheese, how could we say no!

Martine told us, “My truffle mac n cheese is very popular and never lasts long in our house. I love how it is such a simple homely dish turned all fancy by the aromatic flavours of fresh truffles. I recommend being extravagant with the amount of truffle added and add it at the end to preserve the flavour. It is also vegan, fructose friendly and of course gluten free.”

Truffle, Chestnut and Mushroom Risotto by Cooking 101- Learn Create Inspire

Brooke is an absolute whizz in the kitchen and her Truffle, Chestnut and Mushroom Risotto looks like the perfect indulgence for a warm meal at home this winter.

Perth Munchkin

Carly over at Perth Munchkin gave us her top tip for cooking with fresh truffles: “there’s no way to make mashed potatoes a whole lot more fancy then grating on a delicate shave of fresh black truffle. The ultimate indulgence! It doesn’t even have to be for a special occasion, it can make a week-night meal at home so much fancier!”

How totally moreish do all of those sound? We bet you’re just about licking your screen right now!

Need further culinary inspiration once you’ve got your hands on a prized fresh truffle? Check out our 12 favourite black truffle recipes >>

For all-year round truffle dining we stock a range of delicious truffle products which you can buy singularly or add to a hamper from truffle oil, truffle honey, truffle salt to truffle mustard and more. Go on, treat yourself!