White Truffle vs Black Truffle, Explained

The short version: white truffles (Tuber magnatum) are the rare, autumn-only, intensely aromatic ones from Alba and Istria that you shave raw over food and pay a fortune for; black truffles (Tuber melanosporum in winter, aestivum in summer) are more affordable, found much of the year, and are usually cooked. White is the diva, black is the workhorse.

At a glance

The white truffle: the expensive one

The white truffle (Tuber magnatum, the “tartufo bianco”) is the one that makes headlines and sells at auction for thousands. It cannot be cultivated, grows only in a few places (above all the Langhe around Alba and inland Istria), and appears for just a few autumn months. Its aroma is pungent and garlicky-sweet, and heat destroys it, so it is always shaved raw at the table over simple things: tajarin pasta, eggs, risotto, cheese. Little goes a long way.

The black truffle: the everyday one

The black truffle comes in two main kinds. The winter black (Tuber melanosporum, the Perigord truffle) is deeply aromatic and prized, if nowhere near white-truffle prices; the summer black (Tuber aestivum, “scorzone”) is milder and cheaper. Unlike white, black truffle stands up to heat and is usually cooked, infused into sauces, butters, pasta and meat, which is why you see it year-round on menus and in products.

How to tell them apart on a menu

If a dish is being shaved tableside in autumn and the price makes you blink, it is white truffle. If the truffle is cooked into the dish, or offered cheaply year-round, it is black (or, sometimes, truffle oil, which is usually a synthetic aroma rather than real truffle). Both are wonderful; they just do different jobs.

Where to hunt each

You can hunt both in the same two regions this site covers most: Piedmont (white in autumn, black in summer) and Istria (white in autumn, black much of the year). See truffle hunting in Piedmont and truffle hunting in Istria, or browse all truffle hunting tours.

Ready to go? See truffle hunting in Italy for where and when to hunt.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between white and black truffles?

White truffles (Tuber magnatum) are rarer, autumn-only, shaved raw and very expensive; black truffles (melanosporum or aestivum) are more affordable, available much of the year, and usually cooked into dishes.

Why are white truffles so expensive?

They cannot be farmed, grow only in a few places like Alba and Istria, last just a couple of autumn months, and have an intense aroma, so supply is tiny and demand is high.

Can you cook with white truffle?

You should not really cook it: heat destroys the aroma. White truffle is shaved raw over warm, simple dishes at the last moment. Black truffle is the one you cook with.

Try it yourself

Book a hunt and tasting on our truffle hunting tours hub, in Piedmont or Istria.