National Truffle Day

The story

Many believe they were invented by Louis Dufour in Chambray, France, in 1895. Experimenting with Christmas treats, he shaped ganache into balls, dipped them in melted chocolate, and rolled them in cocoa powder. By 1902, his relative Antoine Dufour brought this creation to London, opening the Prestat Chocolate Shop.

The word “truffle” comes from the Latin tuber, meaning “lump,” inspired by its resemblance to the truffle fungus. While the original truffle featured a ganache core, made by whisking cream with chocolate, modern variations embrace diverse fillings like caramel, nuts, or fruit. They’re also coated with everything from cocoa powder to crushed candies or luster dust.

There’s another tale of truffle origins involving chef Auguste Escoffier. In the 1920s, his apprentice accidentally poured hot cream over chocolate chunks instead of sugared eggs. The resulting mixture was rolled into balls, creating the first truffle-like confection.

Truffles now come in many styles, such as American, Swiss, and French. American truffles, popularized in San Francisco in the 1980s, feature a mix of chocolate, coconut butter, and butterfat. Swiss and French truffles are known for their creamy textures, while European ones incorporate syrups.