the hunt for truffles

A legendary aphrodisiac of ancient Rome, truffles are still among the most prized ingredients in the culinary world. And their appeal may just be more than their rarity. It is believed - although yet to be confirmed by modern science - that truffles' musky scent replicates the scent of the male pheromone androstenone. Napoleon ate truffles to increase his masculine potency. Maybe he should have cut back!

Lke Napoleon, Europe’s great gastronome Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin did not need the modern microscope to tell him of truffle’s lustful scent. On the subject of truffles, Savarin is quoted as saying:

"Truffle. As soon as the word is spoken, it awakens lustful and erotic memories among the skirt-wearing sex and erotic and lustful memories among the beard-wearing sex. This honorable parallelism comes not only from the fact that this esteemed tuber is delicious, but also because it is still believed to bring about potency, the exercise of which brings sweet pleasure."