Fab fungus

Italian truffle hunter Giovanni Sacchetto and his dog Dora search for truffles in the countryside of Alba in northern Italy. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Tracking down edible fungi is an Italian obsession with some 200,000 active enthusiasts nationwide, of whom 4,000 are based in Piedmont.

The country is so proud of its truffle culture that it has asked for it to be enshrined on a list of humanity's intangible heritage maintained by the UN's culture body, UNESCO.

Alba is already well known in gastronomic circles as home to some of Italy's most famous red wines and it has been hosting an annual white truffle fair since before World War II, drawing in thousands of gourmet pilgrims for nearly two months of tasting, buying and selling.

This year's festivities conclude on Nov 27 and prices are averaging 3,000-4,000 euros per kilo.

For Swiss enthusiast Marie-Claude, it is a price worth paying.

"Just the scent is something unique," she says."Personally I like it best with something really simple, just on some pasta or a risotto."