One Kilogram Of White Truffle Award Sold For IDR 2.3 Billion, This Is Special

Illustration ofgal fungi (South China Morning Post)

JAKARTA - The white fungus from Alba, Italy, weighing nearly 1 kg sold for IDR 2.3 billion at the 25th charity auction event of the World Alba White Truffle Auction held in Hong Kong on November 10, 2024.

Reported by VOI from the South China Morning Post page on Thursday, November 28, 2024, this 908 gram white fungus is sold for USD 150,000 or IDR 2.3 billion.

This type of fungi is part of a slot that includes a four-day accommodation package in the Maritimemont region, Italy, as well as an experience of eating for eight people at a Castellana restaurant in Hong Kong, which specializes intemblemont cuisine, dishes originating from Italy.

The auction participants came from various countries such as Singapore, Austria, Germany, Thailand, South Korea, and Italy. However, it was an bidder from Hong Kong who won the auction.

The auction event this time was held again by the founder of Castellana, Matteo Morello, at the Mandarin ORiental Hotel Hong Kong. Guests were presented with a menu of six dishes prepared by well-known chefs, namely Romeo Morelli from Castella, Angelo Agliano from Tosca Di Angelo, and Robin Zavou and Matthew Reuter from the Mandarin Oriental team.

This Alba white fungus auction is not the first time Hong Kong people have shown great interest in rare and expensive white fungus. In 2005, a group of Hong Kong rich people paid HKD 863,000 or IDR 1.7 billion for a 1.2kg white minimum that broke the world record at that time.

In the following year, businessman Gordon Wu Ying-smen paid HKD 1.25 million or IDR 2.5 billion for the white AlbaOVAl weighing between 1.5kg to 1.59kg. In 2023, an unknown bidder from Hong Kong managed to get a white Alba knife weighing 1.04kg for HKD 1.1 million or IDR 2.2 billion.

The results of this auction will be donated to Mother's Choice, a charity organization in Hong Kong that provides support to vulnerable children and pregnant teens. Matteo Morello expressed his happiness at the achievement of this auction, which managed to record a second-highest offer for the main lot.

"This incredible support helps us provide important resources for children," Morello said.

With the success of this event, the white Alba tender continues to be one of the most prestigious charity events. Not only does it offer luxury culinary delights, but it also makes a real contribution to very important social goals.