Are Oregon truffles the same as European truffles?
No. But they are cousins sharing most of the traits mentioned above. Oregon white truffles (Tuber gibbosum and oregonense) are similar to Italian white truffles (Tuber Magnatum Pico) in that they share a garlic-cabbage aroma. They are not as intense as the Italian truffles, however. But what they lack in intensity they make up for in aromatic complexity. The Oregon white truffle oil has floral and herbal overtones the Italian truffles lack. This has been demonstrated in side-by-side comparisons of their volatile organic compounds (gases). Oregon white truffles compared to Italian white truffles is like the difference between Pinot noir and Cabernet sauvignon, respectively. Oregon black truffles (Leucangium carthusianum), on the other hand, are very different from French Perigord truffles (Tuber Melanosporum) . The Perigord black truffle has a pleasant odor of earth, must, and iodine. The Oregon black truffle has an odor of mango, chocolate, and earth. Those “sweet” odors, especially wh
