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2a-What Are Truffles
2a-What Are Truffles
2a-What Are Truffles
II. Skim quickly through the text and answer these questions:
a) What is the main topic of the text?
b) Whats the branch of tourism that has evolved from cultivating truffles?
c) Why do you think truffles are so expensive? Do you know any other food products as expensive as truffles?
III. Read the text more closely and do the exercises that follow:
What Are Truffles?
Truffles are edible mushrooms that have fascinated people for thousands of years. Their attraction is the tantalising taste and
aroma, which once experienced, can never be forgotten. Magical powers and virtues have even been attributed to them, and
they have been collected since ancient times. Growing underground, they are difficult to find and very expensive as a result. The
high retail prices can top $7.000 per kg for several species of this fungus, which is a testimony of its qualities and its limited
availability.
Some of the commercially important truffle species are:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truffle
Among them, the highest priced through the course of time, and which has also developed a magic and a value to a point where
it is referred to as black diamond, is Tuber melanosporum.
What Are Truffles? 1/8
In the last couple of decades, homegrown truffles have emerged from agricultural regions traditionally known for their tobacco
and wine by growers hoping their supply will make more profit. You can grow truffles, either on your own or by buying a share of a
truffle grove. But, they require specific growing conditions; it takes years to produce and look like real truffles and at the same time
they involve a lot of risks. Truffles may need trained dogs or pigs to be found and picked. Therefore, growing them implies
particular education. The important thing is not to feel discouraged in the process.
In 2008/9, the average price in European markets, per kilo, was:
Black Truffle 900
Burgundy Truffle 290,
White Truffle 2800
Why is it so difficult to grow truffles? Why have some plantations around the world failed?
b) A second important aspect is the proper choice of land and climate. You need to do a lot of research and be satisfied with your
findings before you establish the location for the crop.
Growing requirements for Tuber uncinatum in Romania
The growing requirements for Tuber uncinatum are quite specific; nevertheless they can be found in a number of locations in
Romania. The surrounding area of Cristuru-Secuiesc has been identified as such a territory, where Transylvanian mycologists
identified 38 different indigenous underground mushroom species over a period of 30 years.
Soil testing results undertaken at several sites in this region have indicated that ideal conditions exist for truffle cultivation. For
example, The Truffoir Ltd. is the owner of 5 hectares of land in the rural area of Vntori where preparation for truffle cultivation
started in spring 2004.
The truffle industry could be a new way of future agricultural investments in Romania alternating the noncompetitive products.
Several farmers as well as businessmen interviewed in locations identified as suitable for growing truffles, expressed major
interest in participating in this industry.
There are endless possibilities to expand this business. Truffle sauces, truffle oil or truffle as such are just few of the products that
can be prepared in special inland facilities and sold at international markets. More than that, a new branch of tourism has
developed as a result of the increasing popularity of the truffle and this is truffitourism.
What Are Truffles? 2/8
Image 2. - http://www.trufflesaustralis.com.au/pages/about-truffles/truffles-life-cycle.php
Truffitourism in Transylvania
The mysterious underground treasure-hunt in the shady forests of Transylvania is no longer the privilege of local truffle hunters,
as Truffoir Ltd. is proudly presenting a unique venture, the Transylvanian Truffle Hunting project.
Image 3. - http://travelbuzau.com/oferte-turistice/trufiturismvanatoare-de-trufe
Note: See the sources for these materials at the end of the unit.
What Are Truffles? 3/8
g) Do you know anyone growing truffles in your area? If not, would it be possible to grow truffles in your area?
2. Choose the correct answer(s):
a) Truffles are attractive because of their
i.
aroma
ii.
appearance
iii.
taste
very hard
ii.
a secretive job
iii.
an adventure
a truffle
iii.
a jewel
ii.
a dish
ii.
iii.
oaks
plum trees
hazelnut trees
c) Property or another possession acquired for future financial return or benefit represents a project/ an
investment
d) A substance that provides nourishment for growth or metabolism is a nutrient / a host tree
5. Find in the text words close in meaning to the following:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
Fungus
Cultivation
Plantation
Requirements
Soil
To produce
To enhance
To imply
6. Match a word from column A with a word from column B to form a correct collocation.
e.g. host tree
A
B
host
forest
truffle
place
shady
dish
worthy
elements
physical
conditions
soil
mineral
tree
minerals
7. a. Identify the words ending in -ed and the words ending in -ing written in italics in the text. Then read the
following explanations.
Participle forms ending in -ed in the text are used to describe somebody's feeling.
Participle forms ending in -ing in the text are used to describe a thing, a person or a situation.
E.g.
We all feel relaxed.
It was an exciting tennis match.
b. In the sentences below, fill in the correct participles of the verbs in brackets.
1. People who keep complaining about their truffle growing difficulties are very __________ (annoy) to
me.
2. The landowners were __________ (confuse) by Ms Browns presentation of how to inoculate tress.
3. Most of the recent information about how to start a truffle business is __________ (inspire).
4. The Coopers were very ________ (excite) to learn that their forests could be opened up for agricultural
purposes.
8. a. Look at the verbs in bold in the text. What tense are they?
Look at the underlined verbs in the text. What tense are they?
Complete the following rules with present perfect simple or simple past:
1. We use...for an action that stopped recently, but has an influence on the present.
2. A few years ago in Europe, hunters .(to use) only truffle hogs to find truffles but lately they
also(to start) using truffle dogs.
3. Truffles, the most expensive mushrooms on earth(to be auctioned) recently for as much as
330.000Euros.
4. Prices for some species..(to increase) by 1,000 per cent during the past year.
Soil properties
V. A Truffitourism Package
You are the owner of a guest house in Transylvania. You want to make a special offer to your guests. Design a
flier (a single side of A4) for a truffitourism package programme for one day. Include the following with the
necessary details:
Source of materials
1. The text is adapted from the following sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2005mushroom_and_truffle.PNG ]