Can you guess my name?
I grow underground, but I bloom. I am hidden, but well dressed. Ancient and yet always modern, I can be enjoyed in all sorts of ways… I am the Truffole , sister of the tartifle and the cartoufle , better known today as the Ardèche potato!
roberjot-camilleThe birth of the potato in Ardèche
Did you know that The potato was first cultivated in France in 1540 in Saint-Alban-d'Ay, in Ardèche?
This small Ardèche village, proud of its agricultural heritage, still perpetuates the tradition today. Truffle, we honor it, we cook it and we celebrate it in all its forms.
A story of terroir and passion
The word Truffle comes from the dialect “las Trifòlas”, which designates the plant producing these famous tubers, compared to truffles.
If the taste is not the same, the passion is definitely there!
Let it be called potato, truffole, kartoffeln, potato or tartifle, this vegetable remains essential. The greatest starred chefs — like Regis Marcon — also praise the taste qualities of the Ardèche potato, emblem of a simple, local and tasty cuisine.
Pixabay
Severine MoulinFrom ugly little tuber to gastronomic star
Once reserved for pigs, the potato owes its rehabilitation to Antoine Parmentier, who was able to demonstrate its nutritional virtues.
Little by little, she conquered French tables and ended up becoming a true culinary icon: French fries, symbol of national know-how.
As early as 1785, Charles du Faure de Saint-Sylvestre wrote in La Truffole en France :
“The potato, known as truffole, was sown around 1540 in Saint-Alban-d'Ay, in Haut-Vivarais, by a Franciscan monk from Toledo, Pierre Sornas…”
A story that links Truffole to the Ardèche region , between heritage and local pride.
Where to taste and discover Ardèche Truffole?
To savor the true Truffole of Saint-Alban-d'Ay , visit the producers of the green Ardèche , united under the banner La Truffole.
Among them, Maison Vernet and Rémi Vernet , president of the Friends of Truffole.
You can also find this local product in Ardèche markets , in some producers' shops , or at the Restaurant La Truffolie , which enhances its flavors.
Art and Potatoes
In Saint-Alban-d'Ay, the Truffle Fountain testifies to the deep link between art, nature and gastronomy.
The La Truffole Association – Historical Fund works to promote this ancestral culture through:
- exhibitions and cultural events ;
- a museum tour;
- and the publication of postcards celebrating Truffles and their heritage.
The Truffole is not just a simple potato: it is a symbol of Ardèche know-how , a regional pride and an invitation to indulgence.
Truffole is illustrated in postcards
