Black truffle salt is an uncommon gemstone which is harvested from the bark of a tree grown primarily in the Alps. The name “truffle” comes from the German term “truche”, which means” Bark of the Tree”. A truffle is actually the underground fruiting body of an ascomycete fungi, primarily one of the classifications of the genus Tuber. Additionally, many other fungi are categorized as truffles such as Geopora, Peziza, Choiromyces etc.
Some use truffle salt as an alternative to salt, since it has a more neutral (though slightly alkaline) flavor. This means that it can replace any dish which may traditionally have had an acidic taste. For example, the use of Rosemary as a seasoning for rosewater is common in many English dishes today. In some places like Italy, truffles are also used as an alternative to wine or cheese in sauces, which is why they are now such a popular ingredient in Italian cuisine.
Another reason why black truffle salt has become a popular seasoning is that they make a great addition to salad dressings. Salads are typically served cold, so this makes using them with black truffle salt a smart move. As an important note, salads should always be served cold from the beginning, since hot salads tend to begin to burn before they have completely cooled down. Using a cold salad is a smart way to get the most from your salad, and to ensure that you won’t end up eating your veggies cold.
For those who love their sea salt, it has often been suggested that black truffle salt makes a great substitute. There are actually some sea salts which can be purchased at your local supermarket which will serve the exact same purpose that sea salt does. On the other hand, black truffle salt tends to be slightly more expensive than sea salt, but is still less expensive than purchasing pre-packaged shakers of sea salt. While sea salt has a much greater concentration of minerals and trace elements, the former tends to be less refined and chemically treated. As such, it does not hold as much of these trace elements that are good for your health.
As a result, black truffle salt is an excellent choice if you want to minimize the presence of chemical preservatives, which are often found in pre-packaged sea salt. Of course, you can also buy black truffle salt online from specialist retailers, although there is a real danger that the levels of minerals might be reduced due to cross contamination. However, there is an alternative: opt for a natural sea salt product which contains a significantly higher concentration of these trace elements. Unfortunately, you do sacrifice a certain degree of taste with this solution, but you will have a healthier diet in the long run.
For a good source of essential trace minerals, try unrefined sea salt. Black truffle salt is a close second, with its own distinct set of flavors and characteristics. If you enjoy truffles and are concerned about the chemicals contained in commercially produced products, opt for the unrefined variety instead. The mineral content of these two varieties is very similar, so you can expect the same health benefits from each. When it comes to taste, black truffle salt is still clearly the better of the two.