Autumn is white truffle season, and that’s cause for celebration in those few parts of Italy where this rare and precious delicacy is found. Of the more than 60 truffle varieties that exist around the world, Italian white truffles are the most sought after and, therefore, the most expensive. A few weeks ago in Piedmont the average price of the treasured white Alba-truffle hit a new record high – 6,000 euros, or more than $9,300, a kilo!

A variety of white truffle is found in the hills around San Miniato, about halfway between Florence and Pisa, and every November the town holds its annual Festival ‘Del Tartufo Bianco’. It’s an opportunity for locals and visitors alike to try, and even buy, the delicious white truffle.

We headed to San Miniato last weekend, and while we didn’t come home with a truffle or two in our pockets, we certainly did make the most of our chance to sample this culinary gold.