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Massive white truffle to be sold at New York auction
A truffle is seen on a table in Alba, north-western Italy November 11, 2013. Located in the heart of the Langhe - the hilly southern area of Italy's northwestern Piedmont region - Alba is the country's capital of white truffles, a variety of the prized fungus which grows underground. Truffles are found two to eight inches (5-20cm) below the ground near the roots of trees. They give off an odour which lasts for a limited period of time and can be detected with the assistance of well-trained dogs and experienced hunters. Output of white truffles, which are not cultivated and only grow naturally in forests, has fallen in Italy over the past few years, largely because climate change has brought a damaging mix of drought and torrential rains. Picture taken November 11, 2013. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini
NEW YORK - An Italian white truffle, reportedly the largest in the world, will be sold at an in-house and online auction in New York on Saturday where bidding is expected to start at $50,000 and could go much higher, Sotheby's said on Thursday.
The auction house could not say how much the prized fungus, which weighs 4.16 lbs (1.89 kg), will fetch, but it is nearly twice the size of a truffle that was sold in 2010 for $417,200.
White truffles, one of the most coveted and expensive delicacies in the world, are found only in certain areas of Italy from October through December. They grow wild in forests and are detected by specially trained dogs and experienced hunters.
They vary in size and are valued for their flavor and aroma.
The massive fungus was discovered in Italy last week by Sabatino Truffles, one of the largest suppliers. Sotheby's said it has already had inquiries about the truffle from Latin America, Asia and North America.
The Balestra family of Sabatino Truffles plans to donate proceeds from the sale to several charities. — Reuters
