The History of Truffle Hunting in Istria

Abstract

Geographical diversity and the complex history of Istria are also reflected in the diet of the local population. Over times dietary habits change, the taste of the population of a region changes, which can, in part, have impact on the identity of a whole region or one of its parts. In order to distinguish the specificity and to emphasize the identity, ‘Istrian cuisine’ was coined as a combination of rural and urban dietary habits throughout the rich history of the region. In the mid-20th century the financial ability of the inhabitants of Istria increased as Istria was orienting to tourism. This led to a number of changes to the ‘menus’ of the inhabitants of Istria, but also to the tourists menus. Even though truffles had never been part of the traditional Istrian cuisine, today they can be found on the menu of farm guest houses as well as restaurants. This is the result of the strategy to attract tourists with better purchasing power to Istria.