Truffle Hound: On the Trail of the World’s Most Seductive Scent, with Dreamers, Schemers, and Some Extraordinary Dogs
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Truffle Hound: On the Trail of the World’s Most Seductive Scent, with Dreamers, Schemers, and Some Extraordinary Dogs Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Rowan Jacobsen (Author), Sam Rushton (Narrator), Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (Publisher)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 97 ratings
Editors' pick Best Cookbooks, Food & Wine
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Bloomsbury presents Truffle Hound by Rowan Jacobsen, read by Sam Rushton.

A captivating exploration into the secretive and sensuous world of truffles, the elusive food that has captured hearts, imaginations, and palates worldwide.

The scent of one freshly unearthed white truffle in Barolo was all it took to lead Rowan Jacobsen down a rabbit hole into a world of secretive hunts, misty woods, black-market deals, obsessive chefs, quixotic scientists, muddy dogs, maddening smells, and some of the most memorable meals ever created.

Truffles attract dreamers, schemers, and sensualists. People spend years training dogs to find them underground. They plant forests of oaks and wait a decade for truffles to appear. They pay 3,000 dollars a pound to possess them. They turn into quivering puddles in their presence. Why?

Truffle Hound is the fascinating account of Rowan's quest to find out, a journey that would lead him from Italy to Istria, Hungary, Spain, England, and North America. Both an entertaining odyssey and a manifesto, Truffle Hound demystifies truffles - and then re-mystifies them, freeing them from their gilded cage and returning them to their roots as a sacred offering from the forest. It helps people understand why they respond so strongly to that crazy smell, shows them there’s more to truffles than they ever imagined, and gives them all the tools they need to take their own truffle love to the next level. Deeply informed, unabashedly passionate, thoroughly enjoyable, Truffle Hound will spark America’s next great culinary passion.

Previous page
  1. Listening Length
    8 hours and 42 minutes
  2. Author
    Rowan Jacobsen
  3. Narrator
    Sam Rushton
  4. Audible release date
    October 5, 2021
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
  7. ASIN
    B09H7N2KJ3
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 8 hours and 42 minutes
Author Rowan Jacobsen
Narrator Sam Rushton
Audible.com Release Date October 05, 2021
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B09H7N2KJ3
Best Sellers Rank #125,679 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#114 in Garnishing Meals
#262 in Gourmet Cooking (Books)
#327 in Food & Wine

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
97 global ratings
Truffle Culture
5 Stars
Truffle Culture
Jacobsen, R. (2021). Truffle Hound: On the Trail of the World’s Most Seductive Scent, with Dreamers, Schemers, and Some Extraordinary Dogs. Bloomsbury Publishing.Rowan Jacobsen is an American writer writing about food and the environment.Reading about truffles was not high on my to-read list but lately I'm fascinated by the mycelial network and I'm forever interested in food related topics so this book caught my attention. Through Jacobsen's colorful narration, we learn about truffles, truffle hunting dogs, terroir related to differing types of truffles, and truffle culture and its secrecy surrounding curating and harvesting. Truffle descriptions left my mouth watering. This book includes truffle stories from England, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Hungary, California, Oregon, Washington, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Maryland, New York Vermont, and Quebec. The dirty dozen are described using Latin Name, Alias, Appearance, Size, Season, Habitat, Region, Price, Availability, Use, Fragrance, and notes. Each description includes an accompanying color photo. Tuber Aestivum Scorzone Black Summer, Tuber Uncinatum Burgundy Black Autumn, Tuber Borchii White Bianchetto, Tuber Brumale, Tuber Oregonense or Tuber Gibbosum Oregon White, Leucangium Carthusianum Oregon Black, Tuber Macrosporum, Tuber Canaliculatum Appalachian, Mattirolomyces terfezioides Honey, Tuber Himalayensis or Tuber Indicum Chinese. Seven more: Tuber mesentericum Bagnoli, Tuber Maculatum, Tuber Excavatum, Kalapuya Brunnea Oregon Brown, Tuber Lyonii Pecan, Melanogaster, Terfezia Desert. An appendix includes recipes."Truffle fungi live as mycelia: mats of microscopic filaments that feel their way through the soil. They partner with trees for their daily existence, sheathing the root ends in a net of hyphae, like a glove on a hand. The fungal threads actually penetrate the root, snaking into the interstices between the cells so they can share resources. The tangle of intimacy is known as a mycorrhiza, literally a 'fungus root.'"
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Top reviews from the United States

apache1
5.0 out of 5 stars A great read!
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2024
Verified Purchase
I loved this book. Really well researched with in depth information on truffles. Very readable and the author has a great sense of humor. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking to increase their knowledge on the subject. The dogs are as interesting as the truffles!
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Alicia Crumpton
5.0 out of 5 stars Truffle Culture
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2023
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Jacobsen, R. (2021). Truffle Hound: On the Trail of the World’s Most Seductive Scent, with Dreamers, Schemers, and Some Extraordinary Dogs. Bloomsbury Publishing.

Rowan Jacobsen is an American writer writing about food and the environment.

Reading about truffles was not high on my to-read list but lately I'm fascinated by the mycelial network and I'm forever interested in food related topics so this book caught my attention. Through Jacobsen's colorful narration, we learn about truffles, truffle hunting dogs, terroir related to differing types of truffles, and truffle culture and its secrecy surrounding curating and harvesting. Truffle descriptions left my mouth watering. This book includes truffle stories from England, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Hungary, California, Oregon, Washington, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Maryland, New York Vermont, and Quebec. The dirty dozen are described using Latin Name, Alias, Appearance, Size, Season, Habitat, Region, Price, Availability, Use, Fragrance, and notes. Each description includes an accompanying color photo. Tuber Aestivum Scorzone Black Summer, Tuber Uncinatum Burgundy Black Autumn, Tuber Borchii White Bianchetto, Tuber Brumale, Tuber Oregonense or Tuber Gibbosum Oregon White, Leucangium Carthusianum Oregon Black, Tuber Macrosporum, Tuber Canaliculatum Appalachian, Mattirolomyces terfezioides Honey, Tuber Himalayensis or Tuber Indicum Chinese. Seven more: Tuber mesentericum Bagnoli, Tuber Maculatum, Tuber Excavatum, Kalapuya Brunnea Oregon Brown, Tuber Lyonii Pecan, Melanogaster, Terfezia Desert. An appendix includes recipes.

"Truffle fungi live as mycelia: mats of microscopic filaments that feel their way through the soil. They partner with trees for their daily existence, sheathing the root ends in a net of hyphae, like a glove on a hand. The fungal threads actually penetrate the root, snaking into the interstices between the cells so they can share resources. The tangle of intimacy is known as a mycorrhiza, literally a 'fungus root.'"
Customer image
Alicia Crumpton
5.0 out of 5 stars Truffle Culture
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2023
Jacobsen, R. (2021). Truffle Hound: On the Trail of the World’s Most Seductive Scent, with Dreamers, Schemers, and Some Extraordinary Dogs. Bloomsbury Publishing.

Rowan Jacobsen is an American writer writing about food and the environment.

Reading about truffles was not high on my to-read list but lately I'm fascinated by the mycelial network and I'm forever interested in food related topics so this book caught my attention. Through Jacobsen's colorful narration, we learn about truffles, truffle hunting dogs, terroir related to differing types of truffles, and truffle culture and its secrecy surrounding curating and harvesting. Truffle descriptions left my mouth watering. This book includes truffle stories from England, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Hungary, California, Oregon, Washington, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Maryland, New York Vermont, and Quebec. The dirty dozen are described using Latin Name, Alias, Appearance, Size, Season, Habitat, Region, Price, Availability, Use, Fragrance, and notes. Each description includes an accompanying color photo. Tuber Aestivum Scorzone Black Summer, Tuber Uncinatum Burgundy Black Autumn, Tuber Borchii White Bianchetto, Tuber Brumale, Tuber Oregonense or Tuber Gibbosum Oregon White, Leucangium Carthusianum Oregon Black, Tuber Macrosporum, Tuber Canaliculatum Appalachian, Mattirolomyces terfezioides Honey, Tuber Himalayensis or Tuber Indicum Chinese. Seven more: Tuber mesentericum Bagnoli, Tuber Maculatum, Tuber Excavatum, Kalapuya Brunnea Oregon Brown, Tuber Lyonii Pecan, Melanogaster, Terfezia Desert. An appendix includes recipes.

"Truffle fungi live as mycelia: mats of microscopic filaments that feel their way through the soil. They partner with trees for their daily existence, sheathing the root ends in a net of hyphae, like a glove on a hand. The fungal threads actually penetrate the root, snaking into the interstices between the cells so they can share resources. The tangle of intimacy is known as a mycorrhiza, literally a 'fungus root.'"
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M. Reynard
4.0 out of 5 stars Truffle Hound
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2021
*This book was received as an Advanced Reviewer's Copy from NetGalley.

Most people go crazy for truffles. It's just a fact (and I know some of you are reading this and going, uh no, it's disgusting; but well, the majority like it, so I'm sticking with it's just a fact). There's something primal, earthy about the taste that we can't get enough of. Or at least I thought. Turns out most of the truffle experiences we've had have been added chemicals to produce scent or flavor as a lot of truffles themselves don't have long shelf lives. Sure, you can find some products out there (and Jacobsen provides a nice resource reference at the end for this; alas the one I was going to order from was out of stock), but they're not the easiest to get outside of fine dining.

But that's ok, this book helps you identify and recognize not only pure products (and I should say I'm not disparaging the added flavor/scent chemicals, I'll take those on my popcorn any day), but also understand the history of the truffle industry and just why they command the price that they do.

He takes us through many different countries and practices, from Italy, to France, to Croatia and other surprising areas. My favorite chapter was the one about the USA and while homegrown truffles haven't really been on the menu (hopefully changing). Especially since a very special truffle is found in my region (if one has the dog to help find it that is). Whiel this information can get kind of repetitive between chapters (go to country, follow dog, hear how it's not been a great truffle year), the underlying information itself was good and I really got a better sense of all the questions and lore surrounding truffles.

I also like that there were some breaks in between this to talk about the research and development (inoculated truffle trees) used for trying to farm truffles; a traditionally difficult task.

This is definitely a book for either those who love truffles or those who love food history/origin stories.

Review by M. Reynard 2021
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Blair
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2023
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A very entertaining read, written with wit, and demonstrates a passion for truffles in both consumers and hunters, that spans the globe.

The author seems a tenacious truffle hound himself and has not left a stone unturned.
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David Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Information!
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2023
Verified Purchase
I loved this book. I work in the food service industry and needed more information on truffles and this book opened my eyes to the truffle world. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking to increase their knowledge on the subject. It has also made me want to train my two dogs in truffle hunting. The only issue is I live in the Mojave Desert and truffles are not found here.
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Lou
5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic book
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2022
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This is one of those books that you pace yourself, because the writing is so good that you don’t want it to end. You promise yourself to only read one chapter per day, and end up reading several. Even if you have no interest in truffles, the writing is so brilliant that you will love this book. I literally LOL’d a few times-something I almost never do when reading. I am a mushroom hunter of many years and have actually found truffles twice, but have never been focused on truffles-until now.
I would absolutely love an opportunity to forage with the author. His passion for truffles and his writing are addictive. I wish I could give 6 stars. Grazie fratello!
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Top reviews from other countries

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Greg
5.0 out of 5 stars The ''dirty dozens'' ! The twelve best truffles species among about 220 species in total.
Reviewed in Canada on January 7, 2024
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Great overview of the worldwide truffle industry. Fun to read and some new information regarding truffle farming
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barbaralaxe
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 30, 2024
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I bought this book for my brother for his birthday. He was delighted with it and said it is extremely interesting.
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patric lacasse
5.0 out of 5 stars Fouillé
Reviewed in Canada on December 2, 2021
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Super intéressant, bien écrit, révèle quelques secrets ! Pour tout savoir sur la truffe ! Loved-it.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars What a find!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 30, 2022
Verified Purchase
I subject I knew little about- The writer has a way with prose and keeps you interested till the end and wanting more. I shall seek out his mushroom book next. well done.
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