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Travel Bug: Provence offers inside look at magic world of truffle hunting

Writer's picture: Marybeth Bond-SheppardMarybeth Bond-Sheppard
Holding a truffle at Domaine St. Alban in Southern Rhône, France. (Marybeth Bond Sheppard / For The Ark)
Holding a truffle at Domaine St. Alban in Southern Rhône, France. (Marybeth Bond Sheppard / For The Ark)

In the rolling hills of Provence, a timeless tradition unfolds each winter: the hunt for truffles. The elusive and highly prized fungi of the culinary world have long been associated with mystery, luxury and indulgence, but in Provence, France, they are also a deep-rooted part of the culture.

 

These prized fungi, often dubbed the “diamonds of the kitchen,” grow hidden beneath the earth. But harvesting them is no simple task. They are so elusive that neither man nor machine can locate them on their own, and truffle hunters must rely on specially trained dogs with a keen sense of smell to find the fungus.

 

To truly understand the magic of truffle hunting in southern France, one must experience it firsthand, wandering through sun-dappled oak groves and watching the dogs sniff the soil.


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