There are numerous dilemmas related to the truffle. The first relates to the method of how they are gathered, as the truffle is hidden under the ground. Regardless of the fact that they are characterised by an exceptionally intensive scent it is impossible to locate them out of doors without the help of specially trained dogs. 

Secondly, the truffle will only grow in certain types of soil. In Croatia they can only be found on the Istrian peninsula where they flourish in the grey, clayish soil found in the Istrian interior, or more precisely in the oak forest surrounding the town of Motovun and north towards  Lanišce, along the Raša River heading southeast and in the area of Pazin to the south of the peninsula. The people of Istria value in particular, the white truffle, which is gathered in the autumn and is prepared as soon as possible upon its extraction from the soil. Autumn in Istria where the local restaurants and rural farmsteads take on a special mood & atmosphere.

Visitors from all across Croatia and the world come to Istria to revel in the flavours of the world’s most famous aphrodisiac. The Truffle Days start early October with a folk festival in Sovinjak, a picturesque settlement in the Istrian interior .Then its the incarnation of the popular “Tuberfest”, as the white truffle fair is known, it  starts the same day in the settlement of Livade, part of which is the selection of the largest and best looking truffle. The events in Livade continue over the coming days with agricultural product fairs, olive oil sampling and a truffle culinary festival. In November the Truffle Days move to the town of Buzet, when the Flavours of the Buzet Region truffle weekend & gastro gathering is staged – an exhibition of truffles and other local products, a gastronomic delight! A course in preparing truffle-based dishes and a truffle “hunt” with a specialised cultural program. The Days will close in Livade where mid November will see a festivity to mark the anniversary of the uncovering of the largest ever white truffle, which made it into the Guinness Book of World Records.

The most famous festival is the Buzetska Subotina – (Buzet Saturday) when an enormous truffle omelette is made and cooked in the main square of Buzet and shared with everyone, to the accompaniment of music, dancing and drinking!

During the truffle season most restaurants in this area of  Istria  will have a truffle dish on the menu, even if it is just a simple truffle omelette.