Switzerland too offers an excellent habitat for truffles. The species predominantly found here are the summer and Burgundy truffles (also known as autumn truffle, Tuber uncinatum). In Switzerland every species may be lawfully harvested — which is also why an active and growing truffle-hunting community exists here.

The legal situation

Unlike in Germany, truffles in Switzerland are not strictly species-protected. Hunting and harvesting are in principle permitted — with two important caveats:

  • Property rights: on private forest or land you need the owner's permission.
  • Cantonal regulations: individual cantons (e.g. Geneva, Vaud, Ticino) have specific ordinances — usually a daily quantity limit per person.

In federal forest the right to forage applies as defined by the relevant cantonal forest law. In most cantons, 1 to 2 kilograms per person per day are permitted — which, with truffles rarely found in such quantities, is hardly a hurdle in practice.

Where the hunting is

The most productive Swiss truffle areas lie in mixed forests on calcareous soil:

  • Lake Geneva region — La Côte, the Jura — good Burgundy populations.
  • Midlands — from the Ajoie to the Aargau Reuss valley — summer and Burgundy truffles.
  • Ticino — smaller but consistent populations, especially in the southern valleys.
  • Grisons Rhine valley — recent finds, mainly Burgundy truffles.

Only recently in fine dining

Only a few years ago did the first Swiss truffles appear on the plates of fine restaurants. Since then Switzerland has seen a steadily rising number of truffle hunters. Some assume that one can quickly earn a great deal of money with this hobby — a massive underestimation of what it takes: a well-trained dog, at least three seasons of experience, and the kind of site knowledge that cannot be picked up on the side.

Anyone hunting truffles seriously in Switzerland counts in years — not weekends.

Truffle dog rather than pig

Hunting today is conducted almost exclusively with trained dogs. More on breed, training and selection of the right animal under Truffle dog / pig.