You’re probably thinking: they grow underground, they’re warty, and they look nowhere near attractive. So how can a mere fungus get a lot of people all hot and bothered?

Well, there are three things from which truffles derive their aphrodisiac status:

Rarity

As fungi with a symbiotic relationship to tree roots, it’s no surprise that they’re only found in a smattering of places around the world. Their rarity, and most especially, their short season, easily warrant a spot among the most elusive, luxury food items worth desiring for.

Scent

Truffles’ musky scent – though yet to be confirmed by modern science – is believed to replicate the male pheromone, androstenone. While the human nose is not equipped for detecting these culinary gems growing underground, it’s an entirely different story for the natural truffle hunters, the female pigs: they get a whiff and they go loco!

Protein

Truffles don’t rank among the world’s most healthy indulgences for nothing. For one, they’re high in protein; and for two, they have a high concentration of amino acid. Science has yet to have a say on whether or not these things account for truffles’ aphrodisiac properties, but hey, a few shavings of delectable goodness atop ravioli or practically any dish don’t hurt their knack for making the heart flutter and helping sustain the energy for a romantic night out.

Now there sure is more to truffles’ allure than a musky scent or a trace of protein – and I guess this explains the surprisingly large number of first-hand accounts of romantic happenstances involving truffles. Napoleon, for one, feasted upon truffles to boost his masculine potency. And should you need further proof for truffles’ erotic attributes, think of the popular gourmand, Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin who’s quoted as saying:

“Truffle. As soon as the world is spoken, it awakens lustful and erotic memories among the skirt-wearing sex and erotic and lustful memories among the beard-wearing sex. This honorable parallelism comes not only from the fact that this esteemed tuber is delicious, but also because it is still believed to bring about potency, the exercise of which brings sweet pleasure.”

Keen to experience it yourself, aren’t ya? I would suggest that you first try the simple yet most loved Truffled Grilled Cheese Sandwich. Staying in for a lovey-dovey movie night? My Truffled Popcorn (previously known as Charlie’s Truffled Popcorn) Special’s have you covered!

Got fresh truffles?

The best way to appreciate truffles is to consume them as soon as possible. Then again, there’s plenty of ways to keep their aroma and taste fresh even a few days after picking:

1)      Wrap each truffle in fabric or paper without removing the earth.

2)      Make sure to change the wrap every day.

3)      Place them in a container, which should then go right into the fridge.

4)      Keep the container open to allow the truffles to breathe (anything stored near your truffles will sure take on their flavor!).

5)      Truffles going soft means truffles reaching maximum maturity. So when this happens, gobble them right up!

Now go forth and have that romantic bite! Otherwise, stick around for more truffle tips.

The post Romancing the Kitchen: Truffles as Aphrodisiac appeared first on Susan Alexander Truffles.