Their alluring aroma stirs a sensual feeling, so it s little wonder that truffles are regarded as the culinary counterpart of sex. That strong and earthy truffle smell casts its magic spell, making this mushroom irresistible to truffle fans. Such an appeal may seem strange especially to those who have never seen a truffle in their entire life. If you buy ripe or mature truffles, eat them as soon as you can. Storing Truffle Chefs and truffle experts advise against storing or preserving truffles, as it causes them to dry out and lose their flavor as well as aroma. Although it is better that truffles are consumed shortly after you purchase them, you can store them for a short time, like three to five days. Gourmet Edible Truffles Mushroom lovers would not want to miss out on a chance to eat the rarest and the most expensive type of fungi in the world the truffles. Studies show that truffles are included in the top 10 most expensive natural foods in the world which sells at a whopping US $150,000 and above per pound! Because of its unique taste and smell, producers of specialty cheeses also use truffles during production. Aside from using it as a main ingredient, truffles are also used to make oils. Truffle oils have been a practical substitute in using fresh truffles. Because it is so expensive, chefs came up with an idea to turn fresh truffles into oil or a concentrate which has all the taste and odor of truffle without worrying that the fresh truffle would go into waste over time. Black truffles are sold for about 1,000 per kilo when bought in the farmer's market. Its price could go double at 3,490 per kilo when bought from a retailer. Then there s the Chinese Truffles. This type is considered as winter black truffle which is usually cultivated and harvested in China. This can be considered as the most widely-distributed truffle type because it grows bountifully in most areas in China. However, their rich taste and aroma make their price, scarcity, and quite unappealing appearance all worth it. Are you considering truffles for culinary use? Then it pays to acquaint yourself with the different varieties of truffles available nowadays. In doing so, you know your various choices and how to pick the best one for your particular dish.