Markets in al-Hasakah are seeing brisk trade this season in truffles, locally known as al-jamaa, after abundant rainfall and thunderstorms, both considered essential conditions for their growth.
While the season offers an important economic opportunity for residents of the Syrian desert, the dangers linked to gathering truffles are also rising. Landmines and war remnants remain scattered across search areas, turning truffle hunting into a deadly gamble.
A plentiful season
Salem Mahmoud, a vegetable trader who sells truffles in al-Hasakah market, said the al-Hasakah desert, stretching from the Syrian-Iraqi border in the east to Mount Abdelaziz, southwest of al-Hasakah governorate, is among the main areas where truffles appear. He added that the current season is one of the most abundant in recent years.
Truffles usually emerge after rainfall accompanied by thunder. They grow underground at a depth of five to 10 centimeters, and are usually detected through cracks in the soil or the appearance of companion plants such as al-khashkhasha.
According to people working in the trade, this season has produced unprecedented truffle sizes, with some individual pieces weighing around five kilograms, reflecting the scale of this year’s output.
Truffles are classified into several types that vary in color and size, including zubaidi, harqa, habri, and black truffles. Their market value rises with size and quality, with zubaidi considered one of the most expensive and sought-after varieties.
A trade beyond local markets
Most truffles are not consumed in Syria’s local markets. Only a limited share is sold domestically, while the bulk is re-exported to Gulf countries, with additional quantities sent to Turkey, making truffles more of a commercial commodity than a local food staple.
In this context, previous government data showed that truffle exports in 2023 exceeded 600 tons in just 10 days, between March 25 and April 6, reflecting strong foreign demand for truffles.
Vendors say most people involved in collecting truffles do so for sale because of their high prices, while personal consumption remains limited and rare due to their cost compared with average incomes.
Landmines, the biggest danger in the search
Despite the economic activity, truffle gatherers face serious risks, chief among them the spread of landmines across desert areas, especially around Mount Abdelaziz and Markada (southern al-Hasakah countryside), which are among the best-known areas for truffle growth.
Fahd Jaloud, a truffle gatherer in Mount Abdelaziz west of al-Hasakah, told Enab Baladi that searching in those areas has become extremely dangerous because mines are scattered randomly, making movement across the land an unpredictable risk.
He added that truffle quantities in open areas are large this year, but collection remains limited because of the accompanying dangers and the extreme caution of residents after several young men in the area suffered varying injuries from mine explosions.
The dangers are not limited to planted landmines. They also include unexploded ordnance and other remnants of war, often hidden underground or among grasses, making them difficult to spot even for experienced gatherers.
Warnings and safety guidance
The Syrian Civil Defence warned against heading into desert areas to collect truffles, stressing that “there are no safe areas” because of the indiscriminate spread of landmines.
The group pointed to several signs that may indicate the presence of mines, including dead animals, destroyed vehicles, wires on the surface of the ground, changes in the shape of the soil, or the absence of human footprints.
It urged people to follow safety precautions such as sticking to known routes, avoiding contact with any suspicious object, keeping safe distances between individuals, and using simple tools to check the ground before digging.
In the event of an explosion, it stressed the need to stay in place and avoid moving randomly, retreat slowly along the same path, and seek help immediately.
Prices rise because of the risks
The security threats have directly affected truffle prices in al-Hasakah markets, where they range between 65,000 and 150,000 Syrian pounds per kilogram, or about $5.9 to $13.6, depending on type, size, and cleanliness. In some southern rural areas, prices rise to 200,000 Syrian pounds per kilogram, or around $18.1.
Prices are even higher in markets in Deir Ezzor because of the superior quality of truffles collected from the Syrian Badia, particularly the Shamiyah area.
Vendors attribute the increase to the difficulty of reaching production areas, the high level of risk, and growing foreign demand, all of which make truffles expensive and limit their local consumption.
Recent military developments in al-Hasakah governorate and the division of influence among different actors have also restricted transport, reducing the quantities reaching cities such as al-Hasakah and al-Qamishli.
A livelihood marked by danger
The truffle harvest season runs from February to April and is an important economic opportunity for rural residents, but it is also closely tied to danger, leaving people with a difficult choice between securing income and risking their lives.
Abdullah al-Ali, one of the market’s regular visitors, said truffles have “a special taste” when they are freshly collected and cooked right away. Fawza al-Khader said preparing them requires major effort in cleaning because they are filled with sand.
Between abundance and danger
Despite a plentiful season and record production, landmines remain the biggest threat to truffle gatherers in al-Hasakah’s countryside, particularly the western areas, amid the absence of accurate mine maps and their continued spread across vast stretches of the desert.
While truffles continue to provide an important source of income, the need for mine clearance and intensified awareness campaigns is becoming increasingly urgent, to reduce human losses and ensure that truffle hunting does not turn into a deadly journey.
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