The fascinating story of the “lady of truffles” and of an Italian excellence that has come from the most important courts of the Renaissance to the present day, giving us extraordinary products and a unique experience: truffle hunting with tasting in the woods around Castelfiorentino, where the company is based.

The magical thread that binds the Calugi family to truffles has its roots 2 centuries ago, when Stefania’s great-grandfather, Antonio, began to be passionate about hunting for this precious “treasure”. From there, the tradition continued up to Stefania‘s generation who, driven by the strong bond with her parents, her father Renato, a passionate descendant of truffle hunters, and her mother from whom she inherited her love for good food, decided to start her own company.

These are the foundations that led her to open her first artisan laboratory in Castelfiorentino in 1987, where she creates extraordinary products based on fresh truffles. Today, Stefania, together with her “partner in crime” Jurij, produces over 200 references exported to more than 40 countries. The shop is located in Castelfiorentino, the perfect address for shopping for these delicacies or booking a tasting with the famous “truffle hunt”.

We want to teach and transmit the love for truffles by revealing the passion and history that this excellent product hides.

(Stefania Calugi)

Adored by Caterina de’ Medici and Lucrezia Borgia, on whose tables it could never be missing, the truffle has a truly ancient history. It is precisely from here, that the fascinating sensory journey begins when guests arrive at the Castelfiorentino headquarters of the brand to discover all the secrets of this underground fungus.

The identification of the truffle, already present in the writings of Pliny the Elder, is due to the Italian botanist Carlo Vittadini who, in 1831, published his Monographia tuberacearum cataloging most of the existing types of truffle according to scientific criteria. In Italy, there are 13 species suitable for harvesting, first and foremost the very precious white truffle and black truffle, whose value is established based on the market trend at the truffle exchange.

To get to know truffles closer, you can book the famous Truffle Experience in the picturesque woods around Castelfiorentino, where the Truffle Showroom is also located, a point of reference for those who want to discover the food and wine excellences of the area. Here, there is the possibility of tasting the different declinations of truffles, as well as a line of local vegetables and preserves, in addition to discovering their history through dedicated sensory and cognitive paths.

The Truffle Experience is a real “treasure hunt” organized by Carolina, Marketing Manager, and Elisa, in charge of hospitality and logistics of the experience, in the woods and organic truffle grounds near the company headquarters, accompanied by professional truffle hunters. A suggestive walk in the company of phenomenal truffle dogs to go in search of the precious product, relying on their good “nose”.

In fact, truffles have a very special bond with the land where they grow. During the hunt, you will learn that a series of trees, including lime, hornbeam, hazel, and black pine, signal the presence of truffles nearby, helping the hunters and their four-legged friends in their search.

Regardless of the outcome of the search, participants are always guaranteed a happy ending. The experience is always followed by a tasting of Calugi products: a complete lunch, from appetizer to dessert, or a light lunch based on delicious sweet and savory finger food to appreciate the versatility of this product. In the Calugi food lines, we find, in fact, various specialties based on truffles, all to be purchased for a special treat.

In the Castelfiorentino shop, you can buy all the brand’s products: such as the creams and the pâtés, the butters, the granulated hazelnuts with truffle, as well as the latest creation, Essenziale, an oil infused with sliced black truffle grown in the company’s private truffle farm. Only 500 bottles in a limited edition enclosed in precious packaging, truly perfect for a gift for true connoisseurs.

The Secret

In the writings of the poet Juvenal, a legend is reported according to which the truffle was born from a lightning bolt thrown by Jupiter near an oak, the tree sacred to the father of the gods. Since Jupiter was also famous for his prodigious sexual activity, the truffle has always been attributed to aphrodisiac qualities.

Useful Info 

Stefania Calugi Tartufi
Via Armando Cerbioni 38
50051 Castelfiorentino, Firenze
Tel. +39 0571 672185

Truffle experience: from 60 to 180 euro
Showroom opening times: Monday – Friday: from 8:30 to 12:30 and from 14:30 to 18:30
Extra openings: Saturday 14 December from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00 and Saturday 21 December from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00