A RM400k truffle

A RARE 850 gramme white truffle was auctioned for €85,000 (RM401,338) in the Italian region of Alba recently, with the anonymous Hong Kong buyer paying nearly 30 times this year’s market price for smaller nuggets.

The annual auction saw the unusually large white truffle ( below) sold at a price that would value it at €100 (RM472) per gramme.

“The price of this exceptional truffle does not correspond to the market price, which this year is around €350 (RM1,653) for 100g,” the event’s spokesman said.

“What explains this high bid is the fact that the sale is for charity and also the rarity of a 850g truffle, because the bigger the truffle, the more valuable it is.”

The white truffles of the Alba region are highly sought after and are unearthed between Sept 21 and Jan 31.

The bumper harvest this year has brought the regular market price down, from €600-€700 (RM2,833-RM3,306) for 100g to €250-€350 (RM1,181-RM1,653) – to the applause of restaurateurs and gourmets.

Antonio Degiacomi, head of Italy’s National Centre for Truffle Studies, said rains and storms in July and August this year had provided ample water, which is perfect for the truffles.

“It is characterised by an intense perfume, which conjures romantic encounters, the forests, nature. It is very evocative,” Degiacomi added. – AFPRelaxnews