Truffle Aroma Descriptions? (the Fungi, not chocolates)

[grassfed]

I'm looking for descriptions of truffle aroma and taste. Black, White, European, American, any kind. List so far: incense, port, cocoa, soil, sex, pineapples...

[Tab]

1. I'm never had one, and I'm curious, but

I've always heard them described as "earthy".

[grassfed]

2. Truffles have a strong scent to lure scavengers

Unlike mushrooms that disperse their spores in the wind, truffles are underground so they depend on scavengers to spread their spores. Earthy, woodsy, are common descriptions but only cover part of it. I hope some other DU cooks will weigh in with their descriptions....

[supernova]

3. I've been reading about black truffles

a.k. "Perrigord truffles" because I've been thinking about possibly growing them.

I've read that one of the ways you can find them is to look for flies. The odor attracts flies. Not to say it's not an appetizing smell, just that it's quite strong. I don't know either, quite what they smell like. I am very curious though.

[kestrel91316]

4. I have always imagined they would smell, well, mushroom-y....

I should get ahold of some truffle oil at Whole Paycheck and put a little in my homemade mayonnaise when I make it..........

[Stinky The Clown]

5. Musty/funky

Actually, this is like trying to describe a color to a sightless person.

[Shakespeare]

6. White truffle have always smelled a bit cheesy/mushroomy to me.

Cheesy like super-pungent parmegiano.

[sazemisery]

7. Like the 1970's - musky, earthy

magic mushroom smelly :-)

[NashVegas]

8. Is This for a Poem or Something?

I can't wait to read it when it's finished!

[Warpy]

9. Like the dirt they came from, with the same sharp (but faint)

overtone you get when you smell something that is very badly mildewed.

They don't taste like dirt, though.