Italian Black Truffle Sea Salt
Truffle salt (or “black truffle”) is a popular seasoning often found in high end kitchens. However, there are many other uses for truffle salt. Historically, truffle salt was used as a food and beverage seasoning, but today it is often found in cooking and baking as well. There are many myths surrounding truffle salt, so this article will explore some of those common misconceptions and clear up some facts.
Black truffle salts originated in Switzerland. Today, they are produced primarily in Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and the United States. Most truffle salts have a light, earthy, or straw colored appearance. Many of the darker, bulkier salts have a reddish, purplish color, or even speckled. Italian black truffle salts, which are the most commonly seen and most well known, are typically unsalted, making them great for sprinkling on top of baked potatoes, tomatoes, or any number of foods.
Like many culinary delicacies, truffle salts have been used as a food and beverage seasoning since the 1500s. They were first used to season rich meats and fish, including salmon, beef, venison, goose, turkey, and more. The salt was often mixed with wine, and used as a way to add flavor and a crisp texture to the meat. For example, salted cod would go well with a crisp and salty sauce, whereas soured goose could be eaten with a delicate sauce. It is unclear exactly how the wine was added to the mixture, but suffice to say it was an important part of the dish.
In recent years, truffle salts have gained in popularity as a zero carb, low calorie alternative to traditional sugar-based sweets. While many low carb diets promote using these healthy treats, they do warn that the high amount of calories may have a negative effect on your health if you do not watch your diet. However, many swear by the high fat, low carb flavor of truffle salt, saying it offers a delicious, but healthy alternative. Many find that when they eat a piece they feel full for longer because it has a satisfying crunch. Many also find that the low calorie count helps to make the flavor more attractive to those on diet plans.
In addition to the potential benefits of using truffle salts as a food seasoning, they have also been found to be extremely useful as a medicinal remedy. For example, the warm salt has proven to be an effective treatment for sunburn and other skin issues. For this reason, some use truffle salt to treat cuts and bruises, as well as wounds and acne. The high fat content of the salt helps make it a great option for healing these types of issues.
In addition to being highly beneficial, truffle salts also have a somewhat unique appearance. Because of their size, they are typically made in a very unusual way. Instead of being shaped like a cube, they are placed inside of a baguette, then covered with an outer wrapper made from cellophane. Because of their unique and unusual appearance, truffle salts have been a topic of controversy in certain circles, prompting manufacturers to continually develop more shapes and sizes.
Though truffle salts have proven to be very flavorful, some find that they are quite pricey. In response, manufacturers have developed a white truffle salt which does not have as much flavor, but is still quite popular among consumers. Surprisingly enough, not many people know the difference between the white and black truffle salt. This has not much to do with the quality of either, but rather the color of the salt.
If you’re in the market for truffle salts, don’t worry so much about their price. Despite being one of the costliest, there is no doubt that truffle salts offer a unique flavor which is hard to reproduce using other ingredients. This makes them an ideal addition to any baking menu, helping to make each dish more tantalizing than it would be with ingredients which aren’t as flavorful. So next time you get to the store, ask your clerk for Italian black truffle salts instead of regular sprinkles.