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An Italian truffle hunter and trader has unearthed the largest truffle in half a century at a countryside spot near Pisa.
The 1.5kg white truffle is expected to break auction records by fetching more than US$206,000 ($271,000), according to the auction organiser.
Cristiano Savini spent more than an hour digging up the expensive delicacy from a depth of 80cm.
Truffles cannot be planted and suppliers rely on the fungus infecting the roots of oak trees to enable the delicacy to grow - a process which can take up to 15 years.
They are mainly grown in Europe, but New Zealand now produces about 20kg a year for the local market.
- REUTERS, NZ HERALD STAFF
