It’s All About Spore Dispersal

In the world of fungi, as with much of the natural world, it’s all about reproduction in order for the species to continue on. However, the problem for most plants and fungi is that they are stuck in one spot and can’t spread the spores which enable reproduction themselves. They must rely on exterior factors to help them reproduce.

What are spores?

Spores are tiny microscopic particles which are formed by fungi to enable reproduction of more fungi. They are much like seeds, as when they are embedded in their new home and provided with the right conditions, they will grow. This spread of spores is essential to the survival of many fungi species, especially those which thrive underground.

So how are the spores spread?

Spores can be carried by wind to a new location, however a more efficient way is through other organisms such as insects and animals. Spores will be transferred to their bodies via them eating the fungi or picked up externally when the insect lands on it. The spores are then carried to the next plant or location which the insect or animal visits.

Evolving fungi

Insects, which disperse these fungal spores, are attracted to light. Therefore it’s only natural that fungi which need their spores dispersed have evolved to produce light in order to attract insects.

In fact, this scientific study found that mushrooms have evolved over time to glow in the dark and maximize their attraction of insects at night time which could potentially carry more spores elsewhere. This light is regulated by a circadian rhythm, which allows their glow to peak when it’s dark, and go away when it’s day time. How’s that for natural evolution!

Truffles and Their Aroma

Other fungi such as truffles use different methods to attract potential spore carriers. Pigs and squirrels for example are highly attracted to the aroma which truffles give off by no accident. By finding, consuming, and digesting the truffles, their spores can easily be transferred to new locations when they are excreted. In fact, wild truffles completely depend on this method in order to get themselves to grow in new locations.

Of course, it’s not that simple to grow truffles, you also need the right environment and trees which will support them, however the aroma produced by the truffles increases their chances of being eaten and ‘dropped’ in the right location.

Browse through our blog today to find out more about truffles, their history, and handy recipes to cook them up in.

The post Why Do Some Mushrooms Glow in the Dark? appeared first on Susan Alexander Truffles.

Deer and Bears

Deer have the advantage of safely being able to consume many fungi and mushrooms which would normally be poisonous to humans.

Although bears are known for eating fish, rodents and other meat, they are actually omnivores which means they also like to eat plants, tree roots, and you guessed it – fungi. During summer they especially enjoy uncovering tree roots, tubers and mushrooms.

Rabbits and Squirrels

A squirrel’s diet is mainly made up of nuts and acorns, flowers, fruits, berries, and grass. However, squirrels also love truffle-like fungi, digging them up from the ground and leaving them to dry on tree limbs before eating them.

Rabbits also love to dig up fungi, providing them with rich nutrients which they could otherwise miss through mainly consuming grass. Squirrels, rabbits, and other small mammals and rodents which eat these fungi contribute to the ecosystem by helping to spread the spores and seeds from fungi and plants.

Slugs and Insects

Slugs and insects are attracted to the most nourishing foods such as greens and forest fruits, and therefore to mushrooms also. This relationship also enables the forest to continue its lifecycle of new growth and decay.

Some types of insects such as flies and snails help to decay wood, leaves, and waste materials so that the forest can continue to grow through the decomposing debris which falls from the trees. This allows more shoots to sprout through the forest floor and they cycle to continue.

Pigs and Wild Boars

Pigs and wild boars love the moist environment of the forest floor; however, they find it hard to travel for food in the colder months. This is why they choose to dig down for their food instead of move around, especially in winter. Fungi are the perfect solution!

Pigs and boars have the best noses when it comes to finding delicious truffles below the surface of the ground. For this reason, pigs have been used to locate truffles by humans throughout history. However, pigs find it hard to control their appetite for truffles and therefore humans have turned to specially trained dogs to hunt down truffles instead. Dogs are easier to train when it comes to not eating the truffles once found!

Truffles are of high value for many species

There is a tremendous diversity of animals known to instinctively consume fungi in order to gain valuable energy. And while some exclusively eat fungi and truffle-like fungi (mainly insects), there are others that eat it as part of their wider diet just like humans do.

Browse through our blog today to learn more about truffles or shop our online store for an ultimate truffle experience.

The post From Bears to Boars: Animals That Love Mushrooms Like We Do appeared first on Susan Alexander Truffles.

What is food poisoning?

Eat hot food within two hours of serving to avoid food poisoning.

Food poisoning is commonly caused by toxins, bacteria or viruses found in food. Some examples include salmonella, listeria, norovirus, and E. coli. These might already be present in food or they may grow on the food due to the environment. Once affected food is ingested, food poisoning symptoms may occur such as abdominal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, and sweating. If you think you have food poisoning, it’s important to see your doctor or emergency department immediately.

Wash your hands.

The first rule for avoiding food poisoning is to make sure your hands are clean before and after food preparation, especially if you are handling raw meat. Wash hands with soap and warm water thoroughly.

Avoid cross-contamination.

Raw meat is a potential carrier for bacteria, especially if left out of the fridge for too long. Wash utensils that have been in contact with raw meat, chicken, fish or eggs. It’s also important to never put cooked food into a container that has had raw meat in it without washing well in between. You should also use a different chopping board for meat-only.

Immediately wash utensils that have contacted raw meat.

Stick to used-by dates.

Do not eat leftovers which have been in the fridge for longer than 48 hours. Never eat foods which have passed their used-by date or that appear to have torn or broken packaging. If you are unsure about the food, don’t serve or consume it, especially if it smells funny or looks off in color.

Thaw foods properly.

The safest way to thaw foods is in the fridge. However, if you are after a quicker thaw, you can do so by submerging your meat in a sealed bag in cold water. You can also thaw food in the microwave. In each case, you will need to cook the food immediately after thawing.

Take care of the hot food.

When serving hot food, ensure it’s eaten within two hours or if not, remove from the table and refrigerate. If the temperate is above 30 degrees, it shouldn’t be out for longer than an hour.

Keep cold food cold.

Cold foods such as cheese or dairy items should be kept at four degrees or cooler and served on an ice tray or in small portions and replaced often. You can use nets and covers for food to help deter insects such as flies.

Keeping hot food hot, cold food cold, keeping food out of the sun, eating food immediately after cooking, avoiding cross-contamination, and keeping a clean food preparation area will help you avoid nasty food poisoning this summer. Click through for more specific food handling advice from the US Department of Agriculture, or browse through our blog for more food tips and advice.

The post 6 Essential Hacks to Avoid Food Poisoning appeared first on Susan Alexander Truffles.

No need to overhaul your diet

A healthy breakfast bowl sure can be a real treat.

The reason so many fail at eating better is that they feel a need to change absolutely everything about their diet. Eating healthy isn’t all about changing everything. It’s about substituting out foods that don’t add value to your diet with foods that are higher in nutritional value.

Making huge changes to your diet can in fact put you off completely. Create healthy eating habits that are a part of your everyday life, rather than trying fad diets that don’t stick.

Eating healthy should be a part of your daily routine. And once you start to nourish your body properly, you’ll begin to crave the healthier foods rather than the unhealthy ones.

So, what’s healthy?

It’s all about eating whole foods and as little processed foods as possible. The more natural form your foods, the higher their nutritional value for your body. This means eating more vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, fish, and whole grains. These types of foods are high in fiber, healthy fats to keep you satisfied for longer, and vitamins and minerals.

How can I stick to this?

G’bye, sugary drinks! Hello, homemade fruit-infused water!

Easy! Forbes tells us that the more simulated our palates are, the more likely it is we will stick to a nutritious diet. This means mixing things up. The added benefit of this is that your body will be getting a range of nutrients from different foods, which cuts down cravings and replenishes vitamin stores. Try adding some variety to your meals with herbs and spices, truffles, or infused oils and salts.

Some other tips you can put into practice include:

• Keep healthy food handy by having nuts and seeds ready to go for snacks and chopped vegetables in the fridge.
• Count your nutrients and not your calories! The more focused you are on nutritional value, the less you’ll worry about splurging all of your daily calories on a sugary treat. You’ll end up craving sugar less and you’ll see it’s not that valuable for your body any way.
• Don’t eat mindlessly. Instead of snacking on chips and chocolates whilst watching TV, snap out of the habit by making healthy meals and creating food rituals.
• Drink more water. Sometimes we’re not hungry, we’re just thirsty!
• Plan ahead by making a grocery list so you don’t get caught out with no healthy foods at home, and so that you stick to the list when you go to the store. Try sticking to the edges of the supermarket where fresh foods are kept, the most processed foods are usually located in the middle of the store in the isles.

Browse through our food musings today for more tips on how to eat clean and live a healthy lifestyle.

The post How to Eat Healthy This Year appeared first on Susan Alexander Truffles.

Saffron

Known for its strong flavor and color, saffron flowers only produce three red stamens, each picked carefully by hand. Iran produces 94% of the world’s supply of saffron. Due to the small amount of saffron produced, it’s price sits anywhere between $2000-$10,000 per pound depending on harvest and availability.

Vanilla

Cupcakes with edible gold will cost you hundreds of dollars a pop.

Growing and preparing vanilla is very labor intensive, making this a hot commodity. Vanilla flowers only bloom for two hours per year, the beans must be fermented for two years to release their aroma, and the orchids themselves only grow in specific areas of the world, making this a rare and labor-intensive spice. Just a few vanilla beans can cost approximately $20.

Edible Gold

Gold is a mineral that is safe to eat and very impressive to serve. Known as a luxurious and elaborate ingredient, it can be sprinkled into champagne and cocktails, or used to dust and flake over desserts for wow-factor.

Yubari King Melons

Japanese in origin, these melons are given in pairs as gifts by the Japanese. They are known to be very sweet and delicious and are graded on level of quality. The most expensive have been auctioned off for as much as $26,000, whilst you can still get yourself a ‘bargain’ at a luxury supermarket for a few hundred dollars for a lower graded melon.

Caviar

Very widely accepted as a food for the world’s elite, caviar has a price to match. The rarer the fish from which it comes, the higher the asking price. The most expensive caviar in the world is called Almas, from the rare albino sturgeon, living in Caspian Sea. As this species of fish is endangered, when available, the asking price can soar to tens of thousands of dollars per serve.

Truffles

Not easy to cultivate, difficult to find, powerful in flavor, and growing only in very specific environments, the truffle is a true delicacy for the palate. Depending on the type of truffle you purchase, you can be looking at anything in excess of $200 per serve. Luckily, there are also other truffle-flavored foods such infused oils, butters, and salts that can help curb your cravings.

A Rare Opportunity for Your Palate

Something that all these world’s most expensive food ingredients have in common is rarity, whether it be in the difficulty to cultivate, hard to locate, or short seasonality. They all have certainly distinct flavors and aromas, and a little bit of each will go a long way. Foods like these are definitely something to add to your gastronomical bucket list.

Follow our blog to learn more about truffles or shop our online truffle store today to experience the culinary gems yourself.

The post Truffles and 5 Other Really Expensive Ingredients appeared first on Susan Alexander Truffles.

From all-day breakfast to low-carb snacking, I’m happy to report that we’re shifting over to the healthy side. Here’s the inside scoop on healthy food trends in 2018 that will soon be sweeping your local restaurants and grocery stores.

Breakfast All Day, Everyday

Breakfast, brunch, brinner, and bridnight snacks. Whatever you want to call it, we all love eating a good breakfast—and not just in the morning but any time of the day. And so on top of doing an all-day breakfast menu, more and more places are getting extra creative in coming up with interesting breakfast menu ideas (healthy ones, included) that span all day parts. No, we’re not talking about cereals; we’re talking about a better and greater use of eggs and pork.

K-Flavor Explosion

While it has been on the rise for some time now, Korean food is bringing a flavorful explosion onto the mainstream next year. Sure, you’ve had kimchi, bibimbap rice bowls and deeply savoury bulgogi but restaurants are putting a wonderfully refreshing spin on old favorites, all while taking inspiration from Korean cuisine. Many restaurants are getting off to a great start by trying out seaweed and tofu soup, as well as grilled squid salad.

Raw-some Raw Food

People are constantly trying to improve their health, and a lot of them do so by eating a diet exclusively of raw food. After all, it helps fight diseases and regulate body fat! While the trend hasn’t made its steady way into the mainstream yet, many are already stocking up on carrot sticks and mushrooms. Raw food offers a sense of cleanliness, which pretty much has to do with both its production and health benefits. Other excellent examples include sashimi, kefir, and raw apple.

Raw food offers a sense of cleanliness.

Low-Carb Snacking

The past year saw a strong healthy snacking trend among professionals who have little time to purchase or prepare lunch. 2018 is bringing it back, and this time, it’s all about low-sugar, low-carb snacks. Sweet potato snacks and roasted veggies, for instance, are only going to grow further in popularity, as they can fill one up without the crazy high sugar and carb loads found in a lot of snacks out on the market today.

We’re living in a time where healthy eating options are readily accessible and highly encouraged. If you’re looking to better yourself, then your best bet is to focus on your health from the inside out. Start with the right food and, I guarantee you, you will soon reap the rewards.

So which trend are you most excited to try? Tell us in the comments below.

The post Huge Healthy Food Trends to Look Out For in 2018 appeared first on Susan Alexander Truffles.