An unusual subterranean fungus, with its characteristic knobbly shape and intense aroma – that is the truffle! This rare and precious fungus, which grows in Istria’s fertile soil, is a true culinary delicacy. The Istrian white truffle, Tuber magnatum Pico, is one of the most highly prized in the world.

Truffles were discovered by the ancient Romans more than 18 centuries ago. During the five centuries of Venetian rule, the Motovun Forest was known as the Forest of St Mark, and only selected individuals were allowed to hunt for truffles there. With the change of rulers and the arrival of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, truffles had only one destination – the imperial court in Vienna. To this day, however, they have retained their status as a gastronomic delicacy, although their exact place at the table remains undefined: are they a food or merely a seasoning?

The culinary chefs agree upon one thing only: the truffle should be placed at the very top of the gastronomic delicacies list. The truffle is a mysterious and unique tuber, completely concealed underground. It does not dispose of a plant suspended above the ground and therefore, no human being is able to spot it, except for a well-trained dog tracing it by smell.

The land of our heart-shaped peninsula consists of two types of soil texture: the intensely red one in the coastal area and of the grey, clayish one in its central part. The truffle grows exactly in this grey soil, its epicentre being in the damp Motovun-Montona Forest constantly moistened by the Mirna River flowing through its woods. To be more precise, it is mainly spotted around Oprtalj-Portole, in Livade and in the Buzet area, where Buzet has already been renowned as the Town of Truffles.

This unusual underground treasure, renowned as one of the most celebrated aphrodisiacs, captivates with its intense and distinctive aroma. It may take you by surprise at first, but once you become accustomed to it, you remain a devoted admirer for life. You become addicted to it, just like any other indulgence.