Terfeziaceae

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Terfeziaceae

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Subphylum:	Pezizomycotina
Class:	Pezizomycetes
Order:	Pezizales
Family:	Terfeziaceae

Genera

Terfezia
Tirmania
Mattirolomyces

The Terfeziaceae, or desert truffles, is a family of truffles endemic to arid and semi-arid areas of the Mediterranean Region, North Africa, and the Middle East, where they are live in ectomycorrhizal association with Helianthemum species. This group consists of three genera, Terfezia, Tirmania, and Mattirolomyces. They are a few centimeters across and weight from 30 to 300 grams (1-10 oz).

1 Description and classification
2 Habitat and ecology
3 Culinary use and commercial importance
4 Vernacular names
5 Species list
6 References

[edit] Description and classification

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[edit] Habitat and ecology

[edit] Culinary use and commercial importance

Desert truffles do not have the same flavor as the European truffles but tend to be more common and thus more affordable. Forest truffles can sell for $80 to $105 a kilo, in times of drought even reaching $270 a kilo. Italian truffles sell for $2200 a kilo. As for desert truffles in Riyadh they sold for $26.75 a kilo. (Prices in 2002 US Dollars)

[edit] Vernacular names

Desert truffles go by several different names. In Morocco they are called terfez, in Egypt the Bedouin of the Western Desert call them terfas. The Kuwaitis call them fagga, the Saudis faq'h, and in Syria they are known by their classical Arabic name, kamaa. Iraqis call them kamaa, (or kima or chima depending on local dialects) and in Oman they are either faqah or zubaydi. In southern Spain, they are known as turmas.

In Saudi Arabia, there are two varieties; khalasi are oval with a black skin and a pinkish-ivory interior, and zubaidi have a cream color but generally more expensive.