Périgord lent its name to the black truffle, Tuber melanosporum, which thrives in the limestone-rich oak and hazel woods of southwest France and is gathered with trained dogs from late autumn through winter. The region's truffle markets — Sarlat, Lalbenque — are institutions, and the truffle perfumes the area's confit, eggs, and foie gras traditions. Truffle orchards now supplement wild yields here and worldwide.
Black-truffle season peaks December through February.