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TOURISM

‘Truffle tourism’ worth 63 million euros in Italy

Truffle fairs and truffle hunting tours have attracted some 120,000 visitors to Italy this year so far.

Published: 23 November 2018 12:10 CET
'Truffle tourism' worth 63 million euros in Italy
A tourist smells a truffle at Alba's fair. Photo: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP

Truffle hunting season is in full swing in Italy, and famous fairs and festivals dedicated to the unique flavour of the tartufo bianco, or white truffle, are held everywhere from Piedmont to Tuscany this month.

Across Italy there are some 115 regional events dedicated to truffles, mainly in Piedmont, Molise, Tuscany, Marche, Umbria and Emilia-Romagna.

Plus there are countless ‘truffle hunting’ tours, hikes, cooking classes and tastings aimed at satisfying Italy’s truffle-hungry visitors.

And analysts now say that the tourism sub-industry springing up around the famous tuber is now worth a staggering 63 million euros in Italy.

Photo: Marco Bertorelli/AFP

“It is expected that within 20 years the annual truffle trade will reach, globally, a value of €5.2 billion,” says Massimo Feruzzi, CEO of JFC Tourism and Management, told Ansa.

“It’s only the tip of the iceberg, if we consider that this is exclusively the economic value linked to the sale of truffles,” said Feruzzi, whose company has conducted research into truffle tourism.

“In fact Italy, in this area, can really represent the unique form of tourism: so far this year the entire “truffle tourism” supply chain generated, at a national level, a turnover of 62.5 million euros from a total of 119,788 visitors.”

Like all delicacies, Feruzzi points out that the Italian white truffle trade faces a threat from ‘surrogate’ products.

READ ALSO: Italian fined €100,000 for trying to smuggle truffles out of Turkey

“Because while it’s true that the white truffle is also found in Istria, and in some areas of Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria and Albania, you also have to look at the quality,” he said.

An 'exceptional' 850g truffle auctioned earlier this month. Photo: Marco Bertorello/AFP

The “King of truffles”, an 850g whopper, was auctioned for €85,000 in the Italian town of Alba earlier this month

White truffles from the Alba region are highly sought after, unearthed between September 21st and January 31st using specially-trained dogs and following secret routes.

Across the country, there are some 120,000 people with a truffle hunting license who own one or more trained dogs.

This year's harvest was reportedly excellent both in terms of quantity and quality, after a difficult season last year.

The bumper 2018 harvest has brought the regular market price down, to the delight of Italy's restaurateurs, gourmands and, no doubt, its many thousands of truffle-hungry visitors.

READ ALSO: How dogs graduate from Italy's truffle hunter 'university'

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FOOD AND DRINK

Six of the most Italian non-alcoholic aperitivo drinks

As well as its most famous cocktails, Italy has a long tradition of making refreshing aperitivo drinks without the alcohol.

Published: 11 April 2024 12:01 CEST
Six of the most Italian non-alcoholic aperitivo drinks

Italy’s favourite aperitivo-hour cocktails are known far beyond the country’s borders, so their names will probably be familiar to you whether you drink them or not.

But if you’re in Italy and not drinking alcohol, you might find yourself stumped when it comes time to order your aperitivo at the bar.

The first time I found myself in this situation, there was no menu. The waiter instead rattled off a long list of all the soft drinks available, most of which I’d never heard of, and I just picked something I thought sounded nice.

Luckily it turns out that Italy has some great options for an aperitivo analcolico. As well as ‘virgin’ versions of well-known cocktails, there are bitters, sodas and other Italian-made soft drinks that you’re unlikely to find anywhere else.

They might not be quite as iconic as the Aperol Spritz, but they’re as thoroughly Italian – plus, effortlessly ordering one of these will make you look like a true local.

SanBittèr

San Pellegrino’s SanBittèr is one of the most famous non-alcoholic Italian drinks of all, with its highly-recognisable red packaging, often enjoyed in place of Campari cocktails because of its similar dark, ruby-red color.

This drink is carbonated with a slightly sweet, citrus flavor. The recipe is more complex than that of an orange or lemon soda, with notes of spice and herbs, making it ideal to pair with your aperitivo-hour snacks.

Crodino

Crodino looks a lot like an Aperol Spritz with its bright orange hue, and that’s not an accident: it’s said to have been created as a non-alcoholic alternative, and the zesty, slightly herbal taste is similar. It’s typically served the same way. in a round goblet glass over ice with a slice of orange: a Crodino Spritz.

The name comes from the town of Crodo in Piedmont, where it is still bottled today by the Campari group.

Chinotto

Citrusy Chinotto is an acquired taste for many, but it’s worth trying: it’s one of the classic Italian bitters and is said to have a long history, dating back to a recipe shared by Chinese sailors arriving on the Ligurian coast in the 1500s.

It may look a little like Coca Cola, but don’t let the appearance fool you.

(Photo by Eugene Gologursky /Getty Images via AFP)

Aranciata/Limonata

Aranciata is Italy’s version of an orange soda, but not as sugary, and it tastes like oranges. Its base is sparkling water with the addition of orange juice and sugar. There are various brands, but San Pellegrino’s is the most popular. It also sells a ‘bitter’ aranciata amaro, with even less sugar, more citrus tang and herbal notes, which might be more aperitivo-hour appropriate.

Limonata is, as you might guess, the Italian answer to lemonade. Again there are many versions out there but the fizzy San Pellegrino limonata is beloved for its strong, sweet-sour flavour and there’s nothing more refreshing on a hot summer’s day.

Cedrata

Cedrata is one of Italy’s oldest and best-known non-alcoholic drinks. It’s a refreshing, carbonated drink made from a large citrus fruit called a cedro, grown in southern Italy. It’s far less bitter than a Chinotto, but not as sweet as limonata.

The main producer of Cedrata today is Tassoni, and this is what you’re likely to get if you order it at a bar.

Gingerino

This is harder to find than the other aperitivi on the list and is seen as decidedly retro, but it’s worth trying if you can track it down.

It’s another orange-coloured, sparkling drink which became popular in Italy in the 1970s and is still sold today, though you’re more likely to find it in the north-east, close to Venice, where it’s produced.

You may be expecting it to taste a lot like ginger beer, and there are similarities, but it has stronger citrus notes and more bitterness.

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