Alba in Italy: White truffle auctioned for 120,000 euros

A white truffle with a weight of about one kilogram has been auctioned in Piedmont, Italy for 120,000 euros to an anonymous bidder. The auction was the highlight of the annual White Truffle International Festival in the city of Alba near Turin. There, precious mushrooms worth a total of about 420,000 euros were auctioned.

At around 120 euros per gram, the price of the giant copy is far from the current market price, which according to the Italian Farmers' Association Coldiretti is the national reference. This is currently around 3.75 euros per gram.

The proceeds of the truffle auctions traditionally go to charitable organizations. This year, part of the approximately 420,000 euros will go to Hong Kong's Mother's Choice Institute, which supports orphans and young mothers. Among its beneficiaries is the Dimitri Rogachev Center in Moscow, which specializes in the research of childhood cancer.

Famous delicacy

White truffles from Piedmont are world-famous and are considered by far the most delicious in Italy - their reputation has spread to Asia. They are also called "diamonds of the kitchen" because of their high price.

Every year, for the last 88 years, the city of Alba hosts a two-month exhibition with numerous auctions, where the precious mushrooms are the focus of attention of international bidders.

The rare truffles grow up to 30 inches deep underground in the roots of oaks, chestnuts and poplars. To find them, mostly dogs are used with special nose.