Truffle Products, discovering the world of truffle-infused products

Quality Guarantees for the Truffle Trade in the Food Industry

The global truffle market is a continuously growing market, estimated to be worth between 5 to 6 billion euros annually, and it is influenced by various factors, including seasonality, rarity, and supply. Its value has increased due to the growing demand for truffles: consumers today ask safe, healthy, and high-quality food, which has driven consumers towards truffles.

Did you know? Truffle sales account for 11.5% of the global market for edible mushrooms, and the main consumers of these products are restaurants and food companies!

But how is the sale of truffles protected?

In the food industry sector that uses truffles as an ingredient, safety and quality are of paramount importance for companies involved in the truffle trade. These are ensured through certifications, with the most recognized and authoritative ones internationally being IFS (International Featured Standards) and BRC (British Retail Consortium).

IFS and BRC Certifications for the Truffle Trade

Recognized globally, IFS and BRC establish the standards that companies must respect to in order to guarantee food safety and product quality. Both certifications cover a multitude of criteria, including quality management, production procedures, hygiene, traceability, and risk management.

• IFS, initially developed in Germany, has been adopted by many countries worldwide: its main objective is to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, guaranteeing the safety of food products. Those who obtain the IFS certification demonstrate their ability to ensure hygiene during the collection, processing, packaging, and distribution of truffles, indicating a solid structure.

• BRC, another important certification in the food industry, originated in the United Kingdom. It focuses on food safety, quality, and the legality of products. For companies in the truffle sector, possessing the BRC certification indicates the adoption of good production practices and rigorous quality control.

In simple terms, these acronyms in the food industry encompass the possibility for a company to sell products, use them within their own processes, and offer a guarantee of quality and food safety, which is essential to meet the needs of both consumers and purchasers. Thanks to these recognitions, Bernardini Tartufi can sell their truffles to dairies, sausage factories, and food industries for the preparation of food products.

What products can be “truffle-infused”?

We all now know that truffles are commonly used to flavor and enrich a wide range of food products.

Let’s see now some of the most known and purchased examples.

Most common products with truffles

Formaggio al tartufo:

This cheese does not require long aging and is usually ready for commercialization within 15 to 20 days. The flavor remains relatively light and very tasty, with the addition of a fungus that provides a predominantly strong taste and aroma.

Salumi tartufati: 

Bernardini has been collaborating with many Italian and foreign cured meat producers for a long time, providing a special flavor to your favorite cured meats.

For example, truffle salami is a typical Italian specialty made from pork, salt, pepper, spices, and aromas. Truffle is added to the salami, which can be used fresh or dried. The truffle gives the salami a decidedly intense flavor, making it a prized cured meat. Another example is speck, which, when combined with the taste of truffle, acquires an extraordinary aroma.

Pasta tartufata:

The most common example is truffle tagliolini. The taste of truffle makes this type of egg pasta extremely pleasant. Equally appreciated in our kitchen are stuffed pastas such as ravioli and tortelloni.

Pizzas tartufate:

Truffle pizza is gaining more and more popularity among gourmet pizzas. We are constantly searching for new flavors and combinations that make us crazy, and this pizza is just what we need! Thanks to its strong taste, truffle can be used as a filling, complementing various types of pizzas. Truffle-infused spreads are also excellent condiments for both white and red pizzas.

Truffled snacks:

Truffle-infused snacks are food products that either have truffle as a main ingredient or as a seasoning/flavoring. They can be found in various forms, with some of the most popular ones being potato chips, popcorn, crostini, and breadsticks.

Truffle potato chips are among the most popular snacks, its about crispy chips flavored with truffle powder or truffle oil to give them a distinctive taste and aroma. Truffle popcorn is a delicious alternative to traditional buttered popcorn and is often seasoned with melted butter, truffle powder, or truffle oil to add an elegant touch. These snacks are perfect for tasty and refined appetizers!

Truffled chocolate:

Truffle chocolate is a gourmet delicacy that combines the sweetness of chocolate with the aromatic complexity of truffle, offering a unique sensory experience for true enthusiasts.

It is made with high-quality chocolate and enriched with pieces of truffle, either mixed or incorporated within, imparting its distinctive flavor. This chocolate achieves a balance of flavors between the sweetness of chocolate and the earthy aroma of truffle, often being considered a luxury gift or refined culinary experience. The combination of these two delicacies creates a gourmet product that is appreciated by many chocolate and fine ingredient lovers… what are you waiting for?

 

Note: The use of truffles may change depending on regional culinary traditions and subjective tastes. Nowadays, some chefs and food producers frequently experiment with innovative ways of using truffles, such as in gourmet dishes, which have gained increasing popularity in recent years, creating new flavor combinations. You just have to try them!

 

Paesi principali in cui si consumano il tartufo e i prodotti con tartufo

After learning all these curiosities, you’re probably wondering which are the main countries where truffles are consumed… let’s discover them together!

The main truffle-producing countries (and the main customers of Bernardini) are Italy, France, Spain, and Croatia. However, truffles are also harvested in other parts of the world, such as the United States, Australia, and Chile.

Speaking of consumers, Italy, in particular, is an important market for truffles with a strong culinary tradition associated with them, closely followed by France and Spain! However, truffles are gaining popularity beyond Europe as well: in the United States, for example, high-quality kitchen has long embraced this product, and many American companies import truffles from European countries to meet the significant consumer demand.

In conclusion, for companies operating in the truffle trade, obtaining IFS and BRC certifications is an important step to ensure quality, safety, and compliance with international standards, demonstrating their commitment to producing high-quality truffles… just the way we like it!