White truffle prices in Croatia have reached as much as €5,000 per kilogram at local fairs as the harvest enters its peak, with collectors in the northern Adriatic region of Istria reporting that hot, dry weather has reduced the availability of larger specimens, Croatian public broadcaster HRT reported on October 26.
The season has been under way for about a month, but prolonged high temperatures and a lack of rainfall have created difficult conditions for hunters of the prized fungus, according to HRT.
Ivan Vukadinović, president of the Istrian Truffle Hunters Association, told HRT that weather conditions had caused concern for a second consecutive season, with smaller truffles becoming more common.
The reported €5,000 price represents the upper end of the market rather than a uniform price for all white truffles. Prices vary according to size, quality and availability, with premium specimens sought by restaurants and specialist buyers.
White truffles are among Istria's best-known regional delicacies, drawing visitors to woodland areas around Livade and Motovun during October and November. The season supports local restaurants, food fairs and tourism beyond Croatia's coastal resorts.
Istrian white truffle, known as Tartufo bianco d'Istria, is the underground mushroom Tuber magnatum, harvested in Croatia’s Istrian County, the association says on its website. It has a distinctive aroma combining earthy, mushroom-like notes with hints of fermented cheese and garlic. Its flavour intensifies as the harvesting season progresses. The truffle has an irregular, bulbous shape, a light brown to ochre exterior and a pale brown interior marked by characteristic white veins. Specimens weigh at least seven grams.
Collectors use trained dogs to locate the fungi underground. The coming weeks will be important for the harvest, as rainfall and temperatures influence the development and availability of the truffles.
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