Believe It Or Not, You Can Buy Luxurious Truffles At Costco
Is a Costco membership worth the cost? If you're a connoisseur of truffles — and we don't mean the chocolate type of truffle — then the answer might be yes for a particular reason. Somewhat surprisingly, members can actually purchase these fancy fungi at everyone's favorite wholesale warehouse. For under a hundred dollars, shoppers can grab, for example, nearly two ounces of Pebeyre Whole Winter Black Truffles. At that price, it's even a bit of a steal.
Costco is well known for its deals. So, even though roughly $90 plus tax isn't the smallest purchase consumers can make, it shouldn't be too shocking that this is still less than what many other retailers charge. RJP Unlimited, for instance, sets its price point at roughly $113 for the exact same product. Shop EZ charges around $135. Walmart takes things even further to almost $160. Besides, truffles, in general, are famously expensive, up to hundreds of dollars per ounce in some cases.
What makes truffles so luxurious?
Truffles' expensiveness and luxuriousness mostly stem from their natural rarity. Although not technically mushrooms, truffles are indeed fungi, specifically the type that spawn on tree roots. Because this is a symbiotic relationship, there are some restrictions on how often truffles can be harvested. They also grow seasonally, are difficult to cultivate, and require trained animals to forage, all of which limits truffles' availability. As a result, sellers need to ask for more money, whether they're operating out of a specialty shop or offering wares at a supermarket.
Low supply is one thing, but there must be high demand to really seal the deal, and truffles earn such an appetite. Their strong smell announces their presence before their earthy, musky, nutty, oaky, and savory flavors hit the tongue. This effect is so desired, various truffle-infused products exist, and sometimes, unrelated artificial flavorings are marketed as being truffle-flavored to cash in on the trend. True truffles, however, are often sprinkled as shavings on fine cuisine such as pasta or incorporated into sumptuous sauces. So then, how are Costco's truffles so (relatively) affordable?
What makes black winter truffles so popular?
Not all truffles are created equally, and so, varieties come into season at different times. Burgundy truffles, for example, are gathered in the fall, and because they taste delicate, they're usually the cheapest truffles on the market. On the other end of the spectrum, though still autumnal, are the pungent and pricey white truffles. Black truffles are a happy medium of tasty yet economical. They're farmed in a large handful of nations, including some in the counter-seasonal Southern Hemisphere, so they're easy to source. On top of that, black truffles pair well with meat or veggies, and they feature hints of cocoa, licorice, and port, making them quite desirable.
There are autumn and summer versions of black truffles, but they're primarily harvested in the winter. Those wintry truffles are strong and well-rounded in flavor, and they can taste peppery when cooked in butter or olive oil. They also pair great with a roast or risotto. It's no wonder they've been dubbed by some chefs the King of Black Truffles.
Still, not everybody is convinced. Pebeyre Whole Winter Black Truffles at Costco sport a 2.3-star rating out of 5. Considering most individual reviews tend to fall at either end of the spectrum, it appears they're quite divisive. Love them or hate them, though, Costco's got them!