Every year foodies worldwide wait in anticipation of the opening of the most prestigious white truffle fair in the world – here in Alba, Italy. That time has arrived!

Watch the video below, then look at the pictures of this incredible festival!

Winter truffles are everywhere, as are every imaginable product made from both winter and summer truffles. There is truffle butter, truffle cream, truffle cheese, truffle salami, even truffle bread!

The truffles themselves are kept under glass. I carefully selected my white truffle, whereupon the vendor placed it in a numbered bag and weighed it under my close supervision.

After receiving the truffle in the bag, I head over to the truffle judging table where it is re-weighed to ensure that the vendor is giving did not have a heavy thumb!

There were all kinds of oddly dressed characters at the fair – men in funny hats, and a chocolate pig surrounded by chocolate truffles!

I hope that next year you get to tale a savory adventure yourself to this Mecca of precious tubers here in the heart of Piemonte!