Real deal

White Truffle Extra Virgin Olive Oil

FOUND GIFT GUIDE • FOUND Larder

Most white “truffle oil” is nasty stuff. Almost all of it’s entirely artificial — olive oil, spiked with lab-made “truffle aroma” or “natural truffle flavor” compounds that have nothing to do with actual truffles. It’s aggressively pungent, with notes of gasoline and flavor that fools the inexperienced chef into thinking they’re elevating a dish with a luxe touch. They are not.

So when California’s Flamingo Estate released a $150, 750ml bottle made from real white truffles macerated in the brand’s Ojai estate olive oil, I was skeptically curious, as their products tend to be high quality. I’m pleased to report: This stuff’s the real deal. It tastes like white truffles because it is truffles. It has a nutty, sweet white truffle aroma, more mellow than the fake stuff. The oil tastes like a mix of fresh white truffles and good quality peppery olive oil. The flavors are balanced, with no harsh synthetic notes. And the truffle taste doesn’t cling to your tongue; it fades the way real truffles do. And while $150 might feel like a lot, just remember that this year, fresh white truffles are selling for anywhere from $2000 to $5000 a pound. –Kat Odell

→ Shop: White Truffle Extra Virgin Olive Oil • $150 / 16-oz bottle.