We've trained our dog Eva, a Lagotto Romangolo, to be a truffle hunting dog, starting in the Western North Carolina region. This year is her second truffle season and we are having so much fun finding truffles together. So far, it has been a beautiful journey filled with learning, sniffing, trusting, and finding.

   The species of truffle Eva has found so far is called the Imaia gigantea. Imaia is pronounced “ee-ma-ee-uh”

 This truffle is named after the Japanese mycologist, Sanshi Imai. So far, this truffle has only been found in the Appalachian mountains, and Japan.

Trying to describe the scent and flavor with words cannot do it justice, but its aroma is intoxicating, soft like moss, yet at the same time, sharp like aged cheese.

For more info on the truffles, our training process, and more, visit wildgoods.org

GRADE A - 80 per oz, very little damage, larger

GRADE B - 60 per oz, cuts due to paw and insect damage

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sidenote:
Just because a truffle is harvested in Appalachia, doesn't make it an Appalachian truffle - If you are looking for Tuber canaliculatum, keep looking! Most people hunting these in the wild are using their finds to inoculate truffle trees for cultivation. Hopefully soon they will be available for eating.
We hope to find some productive T. can patches ourselves, but in the meantime have been busy with hunting the Blue Ridge Truffle - Imaia gigantea.

overnight, fresh, wrapped in paper sealed in a container with icepacks

in the refrigerator - wrapped in paper towels stored in an airtight container. change paper towels daily.

fresh shaved over meats and pasta, whipped into butter, craft cocktails and more