I sit on the edge of an old wooden table in our family tavern, while the scent of early autumn and damp earth from the Mirna River Valley wafts through the half-open window. In front of me is a basket of freshly caught specimens that our dogs found at dawn. That intense, penetrating scent that fills the room is not just the fruit of a happy hunt – it is the scent of history. My Bartolić family has been entering this forest since the 1950s, and we know every oak and hornbeam tree like the back of our hands.
But lately, along with the smell of truffles, I often feel a dose of concern. The forest is not an infinite resource, it is a living being that demands respect. Today, when truffle hunting in Istria has become a world attraction, it is more important than ever to talk about what sustainability means and how to ensure that our grandchildren also have the opportunity to feel the excitement of finding “Istrian gold”.
Motovun Forest: A Sensitive Ecosystem That Feeds Us
The Motovun forest is the heart of the world’s most precious habitat – the white truffle (Tuber magnatum Pico). This forest is not just a collection of trees; it is a complex micro-world in which moisture, soil composition and the specific symbiosis of tree roots create conditions that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world.
As a family with a long tradition, we know that truffle hunting is not mining. It is a collaboration with nature. If we take too much from the forest and give too little back, we risk losing what makes Istria special. Sustainable harvesting is not just a legal obligation; it is a moral debt to the land that has fed us for generations.
The Golden Rule: Filling the Hole
It may sound like a small thing, but the most important thing a truffle hunter does is not just extracting the mushroom, but what comes after. When a dog locates a black truffle or a white truffle, we carefully extract it using an “otka” (a small spatula). Once the treasure ends up in the bag, the hole must be immediately filled with soil.
Why? Because in that soil there is mycelium – a network that will give birth to a new truffle next year. If we leave the hole open, the mycelium dries out and dies. We in the Bartolić family teach our children this from their first day in the forest.
Hunting technique and the role of our dogs
Sustainability in truffle hunting is inextricably linked to our four-legged partners. True truffle hunting in Istria is based on scent, not on random digging. Using tools that are not allowed or digging excessively without a dog having previously marked the position permanently damages the roots of the trees.
In our trade, dogs are part of the family. They are the ones who tell us when a truffle is ripe. Picking unripe truffles is harmful – not only do they lack that full, recognizable aroma, but it also interrupts the natural cycle of spreading spores. A sustainable hunter waits for nature to say it is ready.
The fight against “wild” pickers and the importance of education
Unfortunately, with the rise in truffle popularity, many people have also entered the forest solely for the sake of making a quick buck, disregarding the rules of the trade. This leads to the devastation of the terrain and a decrease in the truffle population.
At “Tartufa Istra”, we believe that education is the best tool for conservation. When we take guests on a truffle hunt in Istria, we don’t just show them how to find the mushroom. We teach them about the importance of moisture, how to protect trees, and why peace and quiet in the forest is essential for wildlife and the ecosystem.
BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT FOR AN EDUCATIONAL AND SUSTAINABLE TRUFFLE HUNT WITH THE BARTOLIĆ FAMILY
Sustainability through products: Utilizing the entire catch
Part of our sustainability philosophy is also reducing waste. Truffles that are not aesthetically perfect for sale as fresh specimens do not go to waste. They become the basis for our spreads, truffles, and oils. In this way, we respect every gram that the forest has given us.
The future in the hands of tradition
My family often says that we did not inherit the Motovun Forest from our grandfathers, but borrowed it from our children. Climate change, the decline in groundwater levels, and the human factor pose great challenges. However, I believe that by strictly adhering to traditional methods and modern awareness of ecology, we can preserve this pearl.
When you taste our products, know that behind them stands a promise: we did not take more than the forest allowed us. Each jar with the signature of the Bartolić family carries within itself a responsibility to the soil, the tree, and the dog that ran through that same forest at dawn.
Become part of a sustainable story
Sustainability is not just a word on paper, it is the way we walk in the forest and the way we choose what we eat. By supporting local, family-run businesses that respect tradition, you are directly participating in the preservation of the Motovun Forest.
We invite you to visit us in our stores in Motovun, Poreč or Rovinj. Come have a glass of wine, taste our truffles and ask us anything you want about our work in the forest. If you are not in Istria, our webshop offers you the best of what we have sustainably caught, and for those who want to see first-hand how the forest is preserved – book a truffle hunt via our website.
Let’s protect our nature, so that it can continue to reward us with its most beautiful scents.
Your Bartolić family – Istrian truffles
