10x truffle products from the supermarket that require a magnifying glass

Real truffle is mysterious, scarce, sought-after and expensive. And just seeing the word ‘truffle’ is enough to send many people into raptures. So it’s no surprise that the word truffle appears on an incredible number of supermarket products. Truffle ice cream, truffle pizza, truffle cocktails, truffle crisps, truffle mayo, truffle egg, truffle tapenade, truffle cheese, truffle hummus; is there anything left without truffle?! And how much truffle is actually in all these supermarket products? Erm…

Each season has its own truffle, with winter truffle being the best-known variety. These truffles are at their best in December and January. Winter truffle is best appreciated in sauces, risottos and pastas, or freshly shaved over a piece of fish or steak at the last moment.

But many producers want to cash in on the love of truffles, so you’ll find truffle in all kinds of things, from hummus (…) to burrata. But don’t get too excited; food manufacturers use misleading tricks to sell their products. Because 0.01% black truffle? You’d better get your magnifying glass out when you open the packaging.

Truffle chorizo puff pastry bites

Sounds delicious, puff pastry bites with truffle chorizo? Don’t get too excited; they contain just 0.01% black truffle. And that’s why you pay €3.49 for them, because that’s how much these luxurious puff pastry bites cost. We feel slightly ripped off…

Seasonal truffle hummus

We LOVE hummus, but really only proper hummus, fresh, homemade hummus. But sometimes you have neither the time nor the inclination to make something yourself, and then a tub from the supermarket can be a solution. But why all those strange flavours? Hummus with truffle, seriously? Well, with 0.4% truffle, this can hardly be called a perfect match either. And honestly, doesn’t it sound like a truly terrible combination?

Johma egg truffle salad

Okay, egg with truffle is a match made in heaven; a delicious fluffy omelette is considered one of the best vehicles for freshly shaved or grated truffle. This egg truffle salad also contains only 0.4% black truffle, but because of its intense aroma, you soon think you’ve hit the jackpot…

Truffle cream cheese

Last year, this cream cheese suddenly appeared on the editorial office table, and everyone hated it: ugh, is this cheese spoiled or something? Quite apart from that – because it’s a matter of taste, undeniably – the Philadelphia truffle cheese contains 0.07 percent truffle. That’s a very tiny truffle indeed, and it goes to show once again: packaging does not always contain what it promises—ingredients that are barely present or have been replaced by murky alternatives. You feel at least a little ripped off, right?

Potato gratin with truffle

Potato gratin, delicious! Always a hit as a side dish (make this perfect potato gratin quickly), and the addition of truffle doesn’t sound too bad either. But wait a minute, because Albert Heijn isn’t exactly generous. This potato gratin made with pre-cooked potato slices in 30% creamy sauce contains just 0.04% truffle.

Burrata with truffle

White truffles are much rarer, more complex, more delicate and more intensely flavoured than black truffles. It’s cute to put those adorable truffles on your packaging—they immediately tempt you—but of course you’re being conned right before your eyes. They may be shown on the front (in both image and words), but take a look at the ingredients on the back and you’ll know better. Burrata with truffle butter made from pieces of white truffle (what kind of truffle, and where does it come from? Murky!), we’ll pass. Still want to try it? This  burrata truffle costs €3.29.

Truffle mayo

Truffle mayonnaise, I can absolutely imagine that, because I regularly make truffle fries myself; extra delicious with some grated Parmesan on top. Truffle oil, provided it’s genuinely good, such as Valderrama truffle oil (here, the natural truffle flavour is obtained by drying the truffles in a controlled process, followed by a maceration process (cold infusion), after which the truffles are combined with the olive oil through infusion), is delicious, and I completely understand truffle mayonnaise too. But this  truffle mayo with 0.2% black truffle unfortunately doesn’t have the X factor.

Truffle tapenade

The fronts of food packages are often prettier than what the ‘small print’ on the back reveals… Truffle tapenade? Better call it mushroom tapenade, because with 0.8% black truffle, truffle doesn’t exactly play the leading role in this jar. The truffle tapenade costs €2.59.

Truffle butter

A nice baguette with butter is always a hit for lunch, breakfast or drinks. And of course there’s a little truffle butter too; according to Albert Heijn, this truffle-flavoured butter is ‘distinctive and creamy’. But it certainly isn’t distinctive; when a manufacturer puts flavour on the front, it very often means that—usually artificial—flavourings have been used. The ‘main flavouring’ doesn’t even have to be present (fresh). This has nothing to do with the real, hypnotically delicious flavour of truffle.

Excellent mushroom soup with truffle

Every year around Christmas, Albert Heijn launches an Excellent range. Dishes you can serve with flair during the festive season, such as this wild mushroom soup—with, yes indeed: truffle. In this case, you’re buying a soup with 18% mushrooms and 0.1% truffle. An excellent amount of 0.1%. And you pay €3.49 for it. Cha-ching!

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