RIYADH, 14 February 2005 — Saudis can spice up their lives in the coming weeks by getting special permits to harvest a nutritious bounty among us and then tantalize their taste buds with tasty truffles.
The government will issue permits for people to harvest truffles in the protected areas during this season. A 10-minute documentary, called “Truffles,” will be telecast on regular Saudi TV channels to highlight their growth, availability and uses. The film is currently being shown at the ongoing International Environmental Film Festival in Tunisia.
Truffles is a fungi which grows naturally after the rainy season. “Alwasmy Truffles,” a popular Saudi dish when cooked with lamb, are grown in abundance in northern frontier areas, Al-Jouf, Al-Qasim, Al-Kharj and Najd Province in general. They live in close association with the roots of specific trees and their fruiting bodies grow underground. They are round, warty, and irregular in shape and vary from the size of a walnut to that of a man’s fist. The harvested fungi are sold in boxes for prices ranging from SR300 to SR1,500 in the city’s open markets.
“This is the first time we have introduced a permit plan to harvest truffles in the protected areas, since we want the public to benefit from this natural food source without damaging the environment,” said Dr. Abdul Aziz Abu Zinada, secretary-general of the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (NCWCD).
Dr. Abu Zinada told Arab News that the licenses will be issued by the respective governorates to legitimate visitors to the protected areas. He said the permit plan has been introduced by directive from Prince Sultan, who is chairman of the commission’s management board.
The prince wants to encourage sustainable use of natural resources and local people’s involvement in their management and harvesting. Such a plan will regulate the visitors, who in the past have abused the opportunity to chase or even hunt animals inside the protected reserves.
Dr. Abu Zinada pointed out that there is an abundance of truffles in the Protected Area at Harat Al-Harah, and the commission is keen to allow the harvesters to go into the woods only to reap truffles without damaging plant cover and wildlife. “The permits will keep track of the visitors to monitor their activities inside the reserve,” he said.
The truffle season lasts only six weeks, and the permits issued by the governorates are valid only for a week, though the period of the permit could be extended on request, said Dr. Abu Zinada.
As to the nutritional value of truffles, he said they are rich in protein, and even Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had said its juice will make eyes healthier.
The fungus is scraped or grated onto food and into sauces and soups just before eating. Truffle slicers have been especially designed for this purpose. Experts recommend that veal, chicken, fish, souffles, omelets, pasta, and rice can be glorified with thinly-sliced truffles. Cream and cheese sauces avidly take up their flavor.
