Hello white truffle!
We were back. Finally back in Alba after ten (!) years.
Had it really been a decade since I last set foot in this magical place?
Last time I was in Piedmont, it was part of a bigger Around the World Extravaganza Birthday Trip, where we visited Alba (to line up with the truffle festival), Bordeaux (to meet up with wine loving friends), Paris, Tokyo, and Hong Kong!
I had no idea I would move to Hong Kong at that point in time . . . .
This time, we went with our close friends from the US. It was a whirlwind 6 days between Milan, Modena, and Alba (including surrounding wine regions!).
The Alba White Truffle Festival
The festival only opens for a couple months each year, during the fall white truffle season, and only on weekends.
We decided to go on a Sunday afternoon after having spent all Saturday visiting different wineries in the Barolo region.
The smell of the white truffles is intoxicating, and THIS is truly where you can see some incredible prize-worthy white truffles. I mean, how massive are these white truffles? They are seriously the size of a large potato. I can see why it's so hard for the truffle hunting pigs / dogs to avoid just eating this!
Many Vendors Selling White Truffles
The festival is a serious market, and there are many vendors selling truffles.
Smelling is free, and they will often be happy to let you sniff at various truffles.
Giacomo Morra launched the first Alba White Truffle Fair back in 1929. His company Tartufi Morra states that they were the first company "dedicated to the marketing and processing of the Alba White Truffle."
"Truffle Adjacent" Foods
Aside from white truffles, the fair includes lots of other truffle-infused foods (which can be great gifts to bring back!). Truffle chips, cheese, salt, oil, cured meats, sauces, and much much more.
We even tried a truffle gin, which was surprisingly tasty! Bryan even bought a couple bottles to keep and give away as a gift.
This video gives you a much better feel of what it's like to go to the festival.
Enjoy!
