Spring 2021

Changing Truffle Season

This post will be updated a few times through the end of September.
{updated 27/9/21}

• We were still harvesting a few truffles on the 17,18th of September 2021
• But, with 40+ mm of rain incoming on 19,20th  and a lot more rain forecast throughout October & November,
  essential soil Aeration for the 2022 season became top priority
• So the end of season 2021 truffles are overlapping with preparation for the 2022 season.

Will there be more truffle?

• We had some hopes after the aeration work and the rain, but there was not enough found.
  A hunt on Thursday 23rd found the soil was still too wet, and yielded only 147grams, (not enough to offer deliveries).
  and hopes for drier soil and a final larger harvest on Sunday 26th were not realised with just this final 50grams. 
  
  With better truffle weather at the end of September, than throughout July and August, it's been a very strange season.
  Any later miracles showing up during orchard work will be eaten or offered to regular clients.
  
  After early Autumn frosts, a warm winter with high rainfall, much truffle was lost due to the soil being too warm or too wet to find truffle.
  [June 181mm, July 109mm, August 49mm, September 97mm]
  Overall harvest was only 20% of potential crop, and mostly Covid related problems saw only half of that sold. Fortunately this was expected and partially covered by planning.
• -------------------

• Some people have left their contact details for any final truffles,
• some only if there's hand delivery available?
• refrigerated courier within Metro/Vic is an option, but costs us $30 and a long drive to depot
• others are willing to risk Post, which appears to have recovered.
• Farmgate collection by appointment remains an option, but most cannot travel

• But, Father's Day weekend, even after the Better Homes & Gardens TV episode, which aired on 3rd September (repeated 12th)
  See the episode on the Better Homes & Gardens website <opens in new window>
  actually saw zero orders, and only a few the following week.
• Consumer confidence has plummeted
• Hand delivery on 13th September was necessary, as Australia Post service collapsed over the first half of September. Driving 200km for four orders is not viable.
• So it is questionable if it is worth hunting for truffle any longer. We'll still look though, as we've more recipes to test

What about after Lockdown?

• The High Teas by the Truffière are currently planned to return for the month before Christmas.
• Snap-frozen truffle of various grades and forms is available. With full flavour, and intact aroma, it can suit some dishes better than fresh - with instant flavour release, while other uses are not recommended or simply impossible (eg. aroma infusions). Appropriate usage advice is available. 
• We'll be posting some recipe ideas with how to use frozen truffle.
• There is a series of posts on our Instagram starting last Christmas with a Frozen Truffle Turkey,
  click the frozen truffle below to jump to the posts.
  
• At some point there will be a small range of unique, genuine truffle products.
• Fully natural only, so no truffle oils (buy a fully fake oil at your supermarket, it's cheaper than synthetic based gourmet oils with traces of some type of truffle/fungi)