All truffles are not equal.
A hacked up version of the common black truffle ought not be compared to the more coveted white truffle, found in France and northern Italy. They draw big bucks and I don't mean the deer variety.
These are certified Périgord black truffles. At £850/lb., they don't seem to be too hacked up and I would certainly covet them. Give the guy some credit.
yitbos
French, are we?
White truffle
. . . The Tuber magnatum [White truffle, Alba truffle] truffles sell between 200€ and 400€ per hectogram ($1000 - $2000 per pound). They produce a scent that mimics a male pig sex hormone, and for this reason, female pigs have been used historically in Europe to help find truffles. However, more recently, dogs have become preferred for truffle hunting since they can be trained to just find the truffles whereas sows eat the truffles as soon as they find them. . . .