A rare black truffle – dubbed black gold – worth nearly £100 has been found by a shocked walker in a wood.
Emily Padgham was with a friend when she found the palm sized delicacy which is prized for its unique, earthy flavour.
Truffles grow underground and are often hunted by traders using specially trained dogs or pigs which sniff them out.
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But Emily revealed no animals were involved in her find.
It weights 70g and black truffles can sell for £1,300 per kilogram.
It means hers is worth approximately £91.
Unlike white truffles which are richly perfumed but have little taste the black truffles are very intense in smell and taste.
Also known as black gold they are dark brown to black.
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The riper the darker.
Emily, of Horam (corr), near Eastbourne, East Sussex, wanted to keep the location a mystery.
She told What’s The Jam: “It was found without a dog and using just an old metal fork from my kitchen.
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“Me and my friend couldn’t believe our eyes when I pulled it out of the ground.
“I honestly think it was blind luck.
“The black outside coating comes off relatively easily and will reveal the marble looking inside.
“A really earthy smell comes from them.
“I found this near a pine tree but they grow under many different trees.
“It’s more about the soil and location.
“I just know restaurants charge a fortune just for a shave.
“It was quite mild but this is an autumn truffle.
“Winter truffles are more flavourful from what I’ve read.
“I’m going to be exploring soon to look again with better digging equipment.”
Truffle fans were impressed by the find.
Julie Mejooles said: “What a fabulous find.”
Alistair Tuck chimed in: “Only in Tuscany have had the pleasure of this amazing treasure.
“The smell makes my hairs stand up. I’m addicted.”
And Fee Smith added: “Well done.
“I am very envious.”
The Tuber Melanosporum is also known as the Black Truffle.
Its season runs from mid-November to April.
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