Truffle season kicks off in Al-Rai with strong early demand
The truffle market in Al-Rai opened this year’s season on a promising note, welcoming the first shipments of imported truffles from Algeria amid a strong turnout from citizens and residents.
Prices for Algerian truffles ranged from 8 to 10 dinars per kilogram, depending on size, while a three-kilogram basket sold for 30 dinars, with truffles mostly in medium to small sizes.
Al-Rai newspaper visited the market to track the season’s initial signs and spoke with local seller Abu Abdullah, who described the early indicators as encouraging. He noted that the abundant and prolonged rainfall in some producing countries has contributed to better quality truffles and higher expected quantities this year.
Abu Abdullah added, “In the coming weeks, the market will see larger shipments of African truffles from Algeria, Morocco, and Egypt, with additional arrivals expected from Iraq and Saudi Arabia later in the season.”
Another seller, Abu Abdul Aziz, explained that the anticipated increase in supply is likely to lower prices, predicting rates could drop to 2–3 dinars per kilogram — much more affordable than last year, which saw high prices due to limited availability.
He noted that by the first week of January, large quantities are expected to arrive, making truffles accessible to a wider audience, while Kuwaiti truffles are unlikely to appear in commercial quantities, remaining confined to nature reserves and protected areas.
Truffles hold a special place in Kuwaiti cuisine, prized not only for their nutritional benefits but also for their traditional role in local dishes, particularly during the rainy season and in desert regions.
Each year, the start of the season sees a surge in market activity, driven by strong consumer demand and diverse international imports.
