Why the subterranean truffle is considered the diamond of the kitchen

Food & Drink · Published 30 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Explore the hidden world of these prized underground fungi. This documentary explains how truffles grow in secret partnership with trees and why they have become a global culinary icon.

Truffles are the fruiting bodies of subterranean Ascomycete fungi, primarily from the genus Tuber. They function as ectomycorrhizal fungi, meaning they form a symbiotic relationship with tree roots beneath the soil.

Because they grow underground, truffles rely on fungivores—animals that eat fungi—to disperse their spores. This unique biology has made them highly coveted in cuisines ranging from France and Italy to Georgia and Spain.

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