Iraqis scour desert in hunt for truffles

Iraqi families hunt for truffles, despite harsh conditions and multiple dangers in the desert.

“Here it is, the truffle, a blessing from God!” Zahra Buheir carefully digs out a desert truffle from the sandy earth and shows it off between her calloused fingers. “Rain came, and then thunder, bringing truffles up to the surface,” the 72-year-old said. Braving the harsh weather of Iraq’s southern desert, as well as left-behind land mines, Buheir and her family of seven have spent weeks hunting for the seasonal truffles that have provided them with an income for generations.