Why Are Truffles So Expensive? | English Reading Practice for Intermediate Learners

Truffles are not your everyday mushrooms. These rare fungi are considered a luxury food across the globe, loved for their strong aroma and earthy flavor. But why do they cost so much?

Let’s dig in.

Reading Comprehension – Level B2

🌍 What Are Truffles?

Truffles are a type of underground fungus that grow in close connection with the roots of certain trees. Unlike regular mushrooms, they’re hidden beneath the soil and are usually found by trained dogs. Pigs used to be the hunters of choice, but they had a bad habit—eating the truffles themselves!

There are over 40 known truffle species, but only a few are edible. The most famous and valuable truffles grow in places like Italy and France, where the climate is just right. In 2014, one enormous white truffle from Italy sold at auction in New York for $61,000, weighing nearly two kilos!

💸 Why Are They So Expensive?

There are several reasons why truffles cost a small fortune:

• Seasonal Rarity: Truffles only grow during certain months of the year.

• Short Shelf Life: Once out of the ground, their smell and quality fade fast—often within five days.

• Difficult to Harvest: Even if you know where to look, they must be found by scent and dug up by hand.

• Strict Growing Conditions: Truffles only grow in specific soil, with the right trees, and the right amount of rainfall.

• Unreliable Yields: Even in perfect conditions, truffles are not guaranteed to grow.

On top of that, cheap truffle oils and products in supermarkets often don’t contain any real truffle. Instead, they use a chemical called 2,4-dithiapentane, which mimics the smell—but is also found in foot odor!

🌱 Can Truffles Be Farmed?

Yes, but it’s not easy. Truffle farming involves planting special trees in the right type of soil and inoculating their roots with truffle spores. Farmers often have to wait up to six years before they get their first proper harvest—and there’s no guarantee it will work.

Today, over 70% of truffles sold are grown on farms. Wild truffle numbers are falling because of climate change and the loss of natural woodlands. In France, truffle production has dropped from 1,000 tons per season in the 1800s to just 30 tons today.

🍽 What Do Truffles Taste Like?

Despite their strong, earthy smell—some say like damp socks—truffles actually have a subtle, nutty flavor. They’re often shaved over pasta, eggs, or meat dishes to give a rich, luxurious taste. One first-time taster said, "It tastes a lot nicer than it smells."

🧠 Vocabulary Boost

Fungus = A type of living organism, like mushrooms or mold

Inoculate = To introduce spores or bacteria into something (like roots)

Aroma = A noticeable and often pleasant smell

Shelf life = The amount of time something stays fresh or usable

Labour-intensive = Requires a lot of work or effort

❓ Comprehension Quiz

Choose the best answer (A, B, or C).

• Why are pigs no longer commonly used to find truffles?
  A) They can’t smell truffles
  B) They are too slow
  C) They often eat the truffles

• What is a major reason truffles are expensive?
  A) They grow in any weather
  B) They can be harvested year-round
  C) They are hard to find and don’t last long

• What makes truffle oil in stores often misleading?
  A) It’s made from other types of mushrooms
  B) It contains fake flavoring chemicals
  C) It’s imported from other countries

• What is needed for truffles to grow?
  A) Rain, trees, and special soil
  B) Sunlight and warm weather
  C) Cold temperatures and sand

• Why is the future of wild truffles uncertain?
  A) People eat them too quickly
  B) They are being replaced by other fungi
  C) Climate change and woodland loss affect their growth

✏️ Practice Challenge

In 5 sentences, summarize what you’ve learned about truffles. Use at least 3 vocabulary words from the list above.

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