Top Reasons Why You Should Go Truffle Hunting
At Karlić family, truffle hunting is an authentic adventure. It includes a walk through the forests of Istria, accompanied by trained truffle-hunting dogs and tasting after the hunting. This region, particularly around Buzet and Motovun is famous for very rich yields, especially white and black varieties.
Istria as a Truffle Destination
Istria, and especially the area around the Mirna River valley, is often compared to Italy’s Piedmont region for its abundance of high-quality truffles. The town of Buzet, near the Karlić estate, is known as the “City of Truffles” and hosts various truffle-related festivals, together with Motovun and Livade, celebrating the region’s truffle culture.
Longest Tradition in Croatia of Truffle Hunting
The Karlić family has been involved in truffle hunting for several generations, starting in 1966 and they are the oldest truffle hunting family in Croatia. Today, they are one of the leading families in Istria.
You can literally feel the tradition of their family when you visit the estate and you meet the family members proudly presenting the family’s legacy. We had the honour to be hosted by Ivana Karlić, a granddaughter.
Best Time for Truffle Hunting in Istria
The peak season for white truffles is in the autumn, from September to January, while black truffles can be found all year round. Karlić Tartufi offers experiences that align with the seasonal availability of different types of truffles.
Reasons to Go Truffle Hunting
There are many reasons why you should go truffle hunting since it is on one hand a fun and adventurous experience while on the other hand it is a gourmet experience when you actually taste the truffles, prepared in different ways. It’s not a commercial tourist business but a personal, intimate experience that reflects local culture. However these are the key points that will make up your mind if you are still indecisive about whether to go truffle hunting or not.
Meeting Truffle-Hunting Dogs Bubica and Medica
Did you know that some of the trained dogs are better for white and some other for black truffle hunting? So we discovered that Bubica, the Lagoto Romagnolo, is good for white and black truffles while Medica is good for white truffles. The dogs are essential for finding these underground treasures and the bond between the hunters and the dogs is impressive.
Enjoying the Istrian Countryside and Meeting New People
The truffle hunt takes you through the beautiful Istrian countryside, known for its rolling hills, vineyards, olive groves, and forests. The hunt with the Karlić family took place in the forest near the village of Paladini. The beauty of nature, and forest in particular is an additional value, making it a serene experience away from chaotic city life. In our group there were several tourists from the USA, Netherlands and Croatia who enjoyed truffle hunting as much as we did.
Guided Hunt with Expert Hunters
You are accompanied by members of the Karlić family or their staff. Our guide was Benjamin who shared with us his deep knowledge of truffle hunting, how the dogs are trained and how to find them in the wild. Benjamin was working closely with the dogs as you can see on the pictures and we were lucky to find more than five small and bigger truffles.
Truffle Tasting and Culinary Experience
After the hunt, guests can enjoy a truffle-based tasting menu, back at the Karlić family’s restaurant. This includes delicacies like truffle-infused cheese, eggs with truffles, truffle oils, and even sweets such as “fritule” which the recipe we bring you below. It’s an excellent opportunity to taste both white and black truffles, depending on the season.
FRITULE by Radmila Karlić
2 eggs, 5 spoons of sugar (plus vanilla sugar), 400 ml of plain yoghourt, 380 grams of flour, 1 pocket of backing powder.
Put all ingredients together in the jar and mix them for 1 minute with a regular spoon, not with a mixer. Take a clean spoon, grab a mixture and slowly drop it in hot oil with the help of your finger.
P.S. The truffle sweet cream recipe remains a secret!
This experience is perfect for gourmands, as Istria is an emerging destination for food tourism, and truffles are a significant part of the region’s culinary identity.
Learning About Truffle Products
Visitors can also explore the Karlić Tartufi shop, where they sell a range of truffle products like oils, pastes and truffle-infused delicacies. Many of these products are used in the tasting sessions, and you can take some home as souvenirs. We are sure your closest ones will be happy to taste them!
Practical Information
A visit to Karlić Tartufi offers a blend of nature, tradition, and gastronomy, making it a must-do for anyone visiting Istria, especially those with a passion for gourmet food and outdoor adventures. This is an excellent opportunity to enrich your stay in Istria when you visit it during the autumn months.
How to Find Karlić Tartufi?
Karlić Tartufi is based near Buzet, in the village of Paladini. There is another village called Paladini near Motovun so be precise when you search the directions with your GPS.
How to Book the Truffle Hunting Experience?
You can book the truffle hunting experience directly through Valamar Experience Concierge.