The Périgord Black and its Relatives

Tuber melanosporum, the Périgord black (truffe noire — or rabasse in the langue d’oc dialect of southern France — or, in Italy, the Umbrian black, tartufa di Norcia and tartufa di Spoleto, which gives some idea of its range) is native to the scrublands of the Mediterranean regions of France, Italy, parts of Croatia and Serbia, and the greater part of northern Spain. The Périgord black is found between the 48th and 49th parallel at altitudes from 250m-1000m (720 to 3300ft) above sea level. Its season runs from early December to March, always provided that the noble nugget gets a good downpour in July and August to encourage the infant truffles to swell.