honestly think black are more flavorful and consistent than white which often are a let down - but when they’re on, they’re amazing. $3k / pound in NYC btw.
I’m basically a black truffle guy too…consistency and I’m cheap, or is it frugal?
But just checked regalis, small whites are $4300/lb. Urbani is $2599 for 12oz of small white, not sure what a pound is but should come in under 3k.
I suspect the variation has more to do with quality of sourcing / shipping time / shipping conditions. Which is why I’m going to be in Alba this weekend and have picked out some well known restaurants to eat in. If only one could ensure good red Burgundy experiences by doing the same thing!
class size and shape are what determine price. what most place sell as small is too small. medium or larger is what you want for proper shaving at the table imo. the regalis price i quoted is correct.
Fwiw the prices at the fair in Alba as of this morning are EUR5.5 to 6 per gram for the larger, nicer looking ones
Edited to add truffle tips from the fair:
White truffles get browner the longer they’ve been out of the ground. The paler the better. Also they should be very firm with no cracks or holes. Best shaved onto a dish just before eating
Black truffles (the Italian ones, not melanosporum) with coarse external grains are from the summer; the tighter grained ones are from the winter and are supposed to taste better. Best shaved onto risotto/pasta/eggs a minute or two before the dish is complete so they get a chance to heat up
Urbani provides reliably good product. As noted above this is a great time of year for a trip to Italy. San Miniato has a great white truffle festival that is mostly locals.
Urbani has a somewhat arithmetic-challenged sale right now. For small pieces (1/4-1/2 oz) the prices for 1/2 oz, 1 oz, and 2oz are $90, $180, and…$370.