These are considered the most commonly available type of truffle, with an interior resembling the color of milk chocolate and permeated with a web of whitish veins. They have a distinctly earthy, slightly sweet flavor with delicate hints of hazelnut and cocoa aromas, but it's significantly milder than that of white winter truffles. What Should I Know About Black Summer Truffles? Scientifically known as Tuber aestivum vitt., and commonly known in Italy as Scorzone, they're a fungus — a variety of black truffles that typically grow during spring and summer. They're typically collected in Italy, where Mother Nature has arranged for summer truffles to be found in the same places as winter fungi. Summer truffles have a firm and lumpy black surface. Their outer skin is quite tough, but this adds a unique crisp to the mushroom when sliced or shaved over a dish. A good fresh summer black truffle should have a pale beige interior permeated with white veins and a mild smell of mushroom, nut, and wet earth. How Do You Store Black Summer Truffles? Summer aestivum truffles are especially delicate and should be consumed as soon as possible upon arrival, but if kept properly dry and chilled, they can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days. Here's what you should do to keep them safe and sound until the day you use them: Inspect each of them upon arrival and make sure they are clean. If there's any dirt or gravel on a truffle, gently wipe it off with a clean toothbrush or a soft, damp tissue. Use a short, sharp, clean knife to remove stones or debris lodged in the crevices of any truffle. Dry each truffle with a clean paper towel, then wrap it in a new one and put them all into an airtight container. Keep the container on the upper shelf of the fridge. Change the wrapping towels and wipe moisture from the truffles every day. How to Use Summer Black Truffles in Cooking? Before adding truffles to any dish, ensure they are clean, as detailed above. Because summer truffles feature a delicate and subtle aroma, it's best to use them fresh in your dishes; the high temperatures reached during cooking will otherwise destroy the unique flavor of the fungus. This very flavor will complement the general savor of your pasta or baked potato with some mushroomy and nutty notes. Fresh truffles best reveal their flavor in paper-thin slices or shavings. We recommend using a dedicated truffle shaver or mandolin to slice your truffles and sprinkle them on your dishes. A well-sharpened knife can also work, but producing uniform slices will be more difficult. How Many Truffles Will Be Enough for a Perfect Dinner? Because the aroma of summer black truffles is less intense than that of their winter cousins, generous portions are welcome. The summer mushroom won't overshadow the smells and tastes of other flavorful ingredients; rather, it'll unobtrusively assimilate into your dish and elevate it to a whole new level. If you prefer a stronger truffle flavor in your dishes, you may want to also use some truffle butter or truffle oil alongside these fresh summer truffles.