History of Edible Bird’s Nest

History of Edible Bird’s Nest

Bird’s Nest seem to be a food for the Chinese since a long time ago. Edible nests are found in China but rare, and that the Chinese must always have relied on overseas sources...

Bird’s Nest – The Beginning

He lost count of how many generations his ancestors have been occupying this land, this raw bountiful land now known as Borneo.
He is an indigenous tribal man, living out of caves and makeshift shelters that hardly qualify as a hut. He speaks no languages but simply communicates his basic needs to his community.
There are other tribes beside his own, each living in their own area and populating the jungles and the caves, eking out a living by gathering fruits and plants, and of course, the occasional hunted animal.
He walked a little bit further today despite the sweltering sun, taking pride in his youth and ability to withstand hardship. But like any other tropical country, Heaven has plans of its own. The sun was soon overshadowed by water-laden clouds, which in turn, waste no time in emptying its burdens like a blessing down to earth.
Our jungle boy was reluctantly persuaded to take accommodation in the nearest caves, while praying that his fellow tribes people are safe from the rain too.
This wasn’t his first visit to these particular caves but he seldom stayed long here, for the dampness and darkness wasn’t something every human can appreciate. The incessant high pitch screeching of the swiftlets and the bats made it an even less desirable attraction.
Since the weather is going to remain the same for some time, he took this opportunity to focus his acute vision on his surroundings. Scanning the high walls and ceiling of the cave, he was astounded by what he saw.

Tiny white cup-like structures are fixated in the most disorderly arrangement all over the upper levels of the cave walls and ceiling. And hundreds, if not thousands of swiftlets are popping in and out of these nests like a game of hide and seek.
Even the modern man would be surprised to learn of birds building nests in caves instead of on trees, so one can imagine the amazement of this uneducated tribesman.
His instincts instantly told him that these different caves are conducive for these birds and bats to stay and breed compared to the ones his people are staying in. After all, no two caves are alike.
Fascinated, he made a commitment to come back and learn more about these cave dwelling birds. He may eventually discover something beneficial to his people, especially if he can unlock a new source of food.

Discovery of Edible Bird’s Nest

Bird’s Nest – The Discovery
Over the next few months, he returned to these Bird Caves several times, often in the daylight to try and observe as much as he can about this new phenomena. He is not alone this time. His fellow food gatherers are excited about his findings and have accompanied him on this long trek.
Suddenly, one of his companions is gesticulating wildly. Following the direction of his shaking finger, they began to understand why. Not too far from them is the most beautiful cave lizard they have ever seen. It is similar to a house lizard albeit tougher and bigger in size.
This cave lizard is nearly shimmering. Unlike the common cave lizards they are used to seeing, this cave lizard has the nicest shade of colour, smooth glowing skin and almost bursting with regality. It is the most handsome cave lizard they have ever laid their eyes on.
As they looked on with a baffled expression, the cave lizard calmly approaches an empty swiftlet nest and began eating it, starting from the edges.
Upon further observation, the men chanced upon other extraordinary looking cave lizards and even cockroaches, either at rest or feeding on the abandoned nests.
By now, it is evident that there is something unique about these Bird’s Nests, something that improves the skin and appearance of its consumer. Most importantly, it is something possibly edible that they can use to sustain their diet.
Like the cavemen they are, rocks were hurled upwards towards the nests, dislodging several of them. The nests fell down into the waiting arms of these men, broken eggs and all.
Carrying their newfound harvest, the men eagerly headed back home to show their tribal chief what they have gathered.
Unknown to them, this accidental discovery will soon spark off a huge interest by travelling Chinese explorers and merchants, taking this prized delicacy all over the world.
A new food is born.

Bird’s Nest Recipes

Bird’s Nest Recipes

Each piece of Bird’s Nest is good for 1~2 bowls of Bird’s Nest soup depending on personal preference of thickness of soup.

Soaking the Bird’s Nest

1.Take the number of pieces of Bird’s Nest needed and place the Bird’s Nest in a bowl of water.
2. Ensure that the bowl is big enough for the Bird’s Nest to expand about 7 times bigger,
3. Use water that has been freshly boiled and cooled down.
(This is to get rid of any chlorine or germs that may have been present in the water.)
3. Leave the Bird’s Nest to soak in the water for 2~4 hours.

Cooking time!

1. Prepare a Double-Boiler
2. Fill the external pot with water that reaches to less than half the height of the internal pot
3. After the Bird’s Nest has been soaked, drain away the water and place the Bird’s Nest in the internal pot
4. Add 1~2 bowls of 250 ml water to the internal pot.
5. 1 bowl of water will make 1 bowl of thick Bird’s Nest soup assuming only 1 piece of Bird’s Nest is used.
(2 pieces will make 2 bowls of Bird’s Nest soup)
6. Add other accompanying ingredients (see below) and cover the internal pot and the external pot.
7. Put a strong fire under the pots.
8. Once the water is boiling in the external pot, switch to a low flame
9. Continue cooking the Bird’s Nest for 2~3 hours.
10. Remove any pandan leaves (if applicable) and pour the Bird’s Nest soup into a bowl serve hot or cold.
Raw Bird’s Nest is mainly made up of nutritious protein and therefore contains a certain 'egg-like' smell.
Purists have been known to consume Bird’s Nest without any other ingredients for maximum absorption and quality.
Here, we do recommend several alternatives that can be added to your Bird’s Nest Soup to make it more delectable.

Rock Sugar.

Often consumed as a dessert delicacy, Bird’s Nest is widely-expected to taste sweet. Rock sugar is an essential ingredient in cooking Bird’s Nest. Use suitable amount of rock sugar according to personal preference.

Pandan

Pandan leaves have a wonderful fragrance and are often used in asia to magnify the aroma of dishes. Pandan leaves can be cooked together with the Bird’s Nest in the internal pot for a heavenly scent!

Red dates

Red Dates help the body to produce more red blood cells and boosts immunity. it is also very good for the throat.

Dried Longans

Dried Longans help to produce a 'calming' sensation to the Bird’s Nest soup and has therapeutic properties.

Ginger

Ginger is a catalyst, helping the antioxidants in the Bird’s Nest soup to be better absorbed by the body. It is alkaline and helps the body to digest food, aiding blood circulation and is a wonderful natural remedy for colds.

Egg White.

Adding some egg white helps to enhance the favours of the Bird’s Nest. Goes very well with ginger with Bird’s Nest as well. Highly recommended.

How to Cook Bird’s Nest

How to Cook Bird’s Nest

Wondering what to make your mum for Mother’s Day this Sunday? We give you two recipes to make the most out of this premium Chinese delicacy

Swiftlets spit and build their nests with it. Men scale heights and risk their lives to harvest it, and consumers pay big bucks to eat it. Bird’s nest, a pale resin-like substance made up of interwoven strands of salivary laminae cement, is something that most Chinese mothers would love to eat on Mother's Day. It can be prepared either as a savoury soup or a dessert. Below, we give you recipes for both.

Nutrition

Bird’s nest is believed to boost the immune system and raise the libido. Women believe that eating it daily enhances their complexion, making it a perfect gift for mums. Bird’s nest contains high levels of protein, calcium, iron, potassium and magnesium. In fact, Bird’s Nest itself is almost tasteless; it requires additional effort to render it tasty.

Varieties

Generally, there are three types of Bird’s Nest, and they are easily recognisable through their colour: red, white and yellow. The red variety nest owes its hue to metal pigments found in the iron oxide cave walls to which the nests cling; it is the most prized and comes with a price tag to match.
The white variety is more popular and more readily available. Its texture is the smoothest of the three, hence its popularity. But when buying white Bird’s Nest, in particular, be cautious of its source. It is known that some suppliers heavily bleach their products to obtain the valued whiteness — so ensure that you buy from a reliable retailer. The last variety — yellow Bird’s Nest — contains the most minerals and has a crunchier bite to its texture.
Raw Bird’s Nest usually comes in two forms: complete pieces or broken pieces. Naturally, the complete pieces command a higher price while the other is more affordable. However, the nutritional value of both is the same.

Preparation

To lessen the hassle of preparation, you could buy Bird’s Nest that have already been cleaned, i.e. with all pinfeathers and foreign particles removed. The little extra that you might have to pay for it would be worth it, as removing such numerous and minute particles by hand can be, as you might imagine, very painstaking and tedious.

To prepare dried Bird’s Nest, following the following steps:

• Allocate 15g of Bird’s Nest per person.
• Soak Bird’s Nest in water for 24 hours.
• Change the water at least twice during this process.
• Using a pair of tweezers, remove pinfeathers and foreign particles.
• Drain water from the Bird’s Nest.
• Put Bird’s Nest in a bowl, pour hot water and drain immediately. The Bird’s Nest is ready for cooking.
• Papaya with Bird’s Nest Soup

Method:

• Boil 100g crushed rock sugar in 1.5L mineral water until the sugar is completely dissolved.
• Place 300g papaya (cut into 2cm x 2.5cm pieces), 50g white fungus (soaked for 2 hours) and 60g pre-cleaned Bird’s Nest in a double-boiler.
• Steam for at least two hours. Adjust the sweetness of the soup and
• serve immediately.
• Double-Boiled Bird’s Nest with Pigeon

Method:

• Put 2 prepared pigeons; 60g pre-cleaned Bird’s Nest; 100g pre-soaked dried longan; 100g dried arrow root (soaked overnight); 1.75L mineral water and 1/2 tsp salt into a double-boiler.
• Steam for four to six hours. Season with salt and serve immediately.

Bird’s nest soup is a spoonful of legend

Bird’s nest soup is a spoonful of legend

As I swallowed another spoonful of Bird’s Nest soup, I wondered, not for the first time, about what makes people prize one dish above all others.

How deep Bird’s Nest roots go into the collective Chinese soul.

Take this soup, for instance. Properly known as Bird’s Nest soup, it’s been a prized delicacy in China and among Chinese people for 1,200 years. The best nests were reserved as gifts for emperors and empresses, who ruled China as gods incarnate. That’s how deep Bird’s Nest roots go into the collective Chinese soul.
At some point, a cook was hungry enough to boil Bird’s Nest and have a swig. Maybe this particular brand was prized because it was devilishly hard to get. Tiny swiftlets use their sticky saliva to build nests onto seaside cliffs and cave walls, to save them from predators. That’s not enough to keep them away from the humans who consider the nest powerful medicine, and are therefore willing to pay more for the Bird’s Nest nests, pound for pound, than silver.

So there I was at a table inside Sun Restaurant Buffalo, 1989 Niagara St., feeling downright unappreciative, unworthy almost, of this spoonful of Bird’s Nest. Across the table, proprietor Kevin Lin explained he was selling Bird’s Nest soup for $40 a bowl.
That’s zero profit, he said. “I want to have it because I come from Bird’s Nest region,” Lin said. “Because it’s a good thing, so good for you, and we want to let people get good things, like us.”
I could only nod, because the most expensive ingredient sold in a Buffalo restaurant tastes like nothing. I said so to Lin, and he shook his head. I wasn’t getting the point. “You want flavor? I recommend tom yum soup. Five dollars.”
The jellylike strands had a slippery spaghetti texture, yet no discernible taste beyond sweetness from the rock sugar the meticulously cleaned nests were steamed with. It occurred to me that here was a food whose value had nothing to do with its flavors or eating qualities, and everything to with its cultural history. Or in Hollywood terms, the backstory.
While trade in edible nests has been recorded since the T’ang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.), famed 15th century Chinese admiral Zheng He is also credited with starting the Chinese belief in the medicinal powers of Bird’s Nest. As the story goes, shipwrecked sailors scavenging for food found the nests, and He told them to clean and cook them. A few days later, the sailors were full of vim and vigor, and He figured he should tell the emperor.

The nests have been credited with a long list of benefits

The rest, as they say, is legend. The fact that they were cleaned, dried strips of Bird’s Nest didn’t stop yan wo, literally “swallow’s nest,” from becoming one of the most prized tonics in traditional Chinese medicine. The nests have been credited with a long list of benefits, including ensuring strong children for pregnant women and erasing wrinkles for mature matrons, providing lifelong immunity boosts for children and enhancing sexual prowess for men.
Which is why the nests have been harvested across China, Malaysia and other coastal Asian regions as long as the Chinese have been buying them. Teams of gatherers scale bamboo ladders and dangle from ropes to get at the nests. It’s the biggest cash crop for some villages.
If they’re careful, gatherers take nests no more than twice in an egg-laying season, or the birds can’t rebuild in time. There have been documented cases of overharvesting driving off swiftlet colonies. But the hardy little bird has confounded man’s hunger for centuries, and is not listed as endangered.
Recognizing their value, Thai, Burmese and Indonesian entrepreneurs have been building condos for edible nest swiftlets, purpose-built structures as tall as apartment buildings. They’re honeycombed with alcoves where swifts can nest, lured by recorded swiftlet calls broadcast over loudspeakers.
The Lins’ story starts with Stephanie, Kevin’s wife. She’s Burmese too, but her father was ethnic Chinese, and started feeding her Bird’s Nest soup when she was 2. He could afford it, because he owned a pineapple canning factory and was rich, by Burmese standards.
The Burmese have no particular affinity for Bird’s Nest soup, Kevin Lin explained. The Burmese government controlled the nests’ collection and export, as a precious commodity. But Stephanie’s mother got the nests from a black market source, and made soup the traditional way, steaming the nests with rock sugar.
“Stephanie’s father would wake her up at 2:30 [a.m.] to drink Bird’s Nest,” Kevin Lin said. The nest’s medicinal qualities are best absorbed on an empty stomach, fans say. She got it perhaps four times a year, and believes it helps keep her healthy today. Her husband’s a believer, too. “I am a healthy man, but her family, her older sister never get sick. So I suspect Bird’s Nest.”
Despite the lack of Chinese background, Kevin knows about Bird’s Nest. At 21, before he met Stephanie, he was a Bird’s Nest smuggler, he said. He’d buy them in Burma and sell them in Thailand for twice the price, he said.
“Whole time I sell it I never eat one piece,” said Lin. “Too expensive.”
The first time he drank it was on his wedding day with Stephanie, in 1997. His mother-in-law fed it to him. Asked if its effects were felt that night, he just chuckled.
In December, Lin returned from a trip to Burma with a bag of Bird’s Nest, determined to put it on the menu.
So that’s why his menu now includes traditional Bird’s Nest, $40, steamed with rock sugar; in chicken soup with ginseng, another honored Chinese medicine, $50; and Bird’s Nest over a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
“I invent this one,” Lin said. “This is Western Bird’s Nest. Like cake.”
At home, the Lin boys are getting their dose too.
They were a little wary at first, but the rock sugar won them over, Stephanie said.
“Now every morning they want it,” she said. “Mom! Bird’s nest!”

How to choose quality Bird's Nest

How to choose quality Bird's Nest

The Bird’s Nest should appear clean, without the presence of visible hairs and particles. The method and facility in which the Bird’s Nest was cleaned is important as well.

Spotting the Real deal

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Bird’s Nest is commonly consumed as a beauty food and has been valued for having beneficial health properties such as boosting the immune system and stimulating cell growth and tissue repair. Though many are aware of the benefits of Bird’s Nest, and how highly priced they are, most are unaware of how to choose Bird’s Nest and to differentiate quality ones from fakes.
The Bird’s Nest displayed in stores or packaging have come a long way, namely undergoing a labour intensive cleaning process. Bird’s nest which are just taken down are very dirty and smelly. Nobody will think of consuming them at all if they see the condition.

The Different Grades

The highest grade of Bird’s Nest is the purest as it is 90% edible upon harvesting and requires the least amount of processing and cleaning to have it consumption-ready. Bird’s nest of this grade have thicker strands, stronger aroma when cooked, and are often white, gold, or blood-red in colour.
Nests that are 50% and 10% edible upon harvesting fall respectively under the second and third grade – and their prices range accordingly. The nests of these grades bear a crispier consistency when cooked as the fibres are less compact.

Things to consider

Here are a few criteria to consider when choosing Bird’s Nest:
Size and volume
The most popular shapes are boat or spoon shape. If swiftlets build their nests on the corner of two walls, the shape of the nest will become triangular. This change in shape has no effect on the nutritional value. Wider and thicker Bird’s Nest cups are of high quality.
Colour and purity
White Bird’s Nest are slightly ivory in colour. Yellow Bird’s Nest are slightly 'beige’ or ‘golden’. Red (blood) Bird’s Nest are red in colour due to the red cave wall’s mineral deposition into the nest. If the Bird’s Nest is extremely white, it may have been bleached, which greatly reduces the nutrition content. Cleaned high-quality Bird’s Nest should be in natural colour, without any soil, sand and moss.
Density and volume after soaking
If threads are thinner and closer, gaps are few, and the size is large and thicker, Bird’s Nest cups will expand more after soaking. The different grades have different expansion ratios. The greater the expansion.

Here's a cheat list for you

In Summary, good Bird’s Nest should possess one or more of these following traits:
• Fine and firm texture
• Thick and big size, boat-shaped
• Slight fishy smell
• Dry to the touch (little moisture content)
• Minimal amount of feathers
• Smaller edge size

5 ways to cook Bird's Nest

5 ways to cook Bird's Nest

One of the ingredients in Bird’s Nest soup is nests that are actually made out of Bird’s Nest, which has dried and hardened.

1. Hawaiian Papaya with Bird’s Nest

Ingredients:
•8 grams (a piece) of dry Benevolence Nest Bird’s Nest.
•20 grams of rock sugar.
•1 cup of water.
•1 ripe Hawaiian papaya.
•1 slice of fresh lime.
Method:
•Pre-soak dry Bird’s Nest. See pre-soaking instructions.
•Drain the water using a strainer.
•Prepare rock sugar syrup. Put some rock sugar in a cooking pot and add 1 cup of hot water. Stir from time to time while simmering until the rock sugar melts completely. Generally, we recommend using 20 grams of rock sugar for every cup (250 ml) of water.
•Place the Bird’s Nest in the bowl, then add rock sugar syrup.
•Steam for 30 minutes, then remove the water using a strainer.
•Slice Hawaiian papaya in half.
•Add lime juice to the papaya to taste.
•Put Benevolence Bird’s Nest (pre-soaked and stewed) with rock sugar on top of the papaya.
•Serve cold.

2. Benevolence Bird’s Nest with Braised Ham

Ingredients:
•4 grams (half a piece) of dry Benevolence Bird’s Nest.
•200ml Chinese ham stock (or chicken stock).
•3 Little bok choy.
•Salt.
•Light soy sauce.
•Cornstarch.
Method:
•Pre-soak dry Bird’s Nest. See pre-soaking instructions.
•Remove from water and steam for 30 minutes.
•Transfer into a soup bowl, arrange bok choy on top and pour over the stock.
•Season with some salt and light soy sauce, thicken with cornstarch mixture.
•Serve hot.

3. Bird’s Nest in Braised Chicken with Ginseng

Ingredients:
•8 grams (a piece) of dry Benevolence Nest Bird’s Nest.
•Chicken breast.
•Chicken bones for soup stock.
•2 sprigs of green onion.
•2 slices of fresh ginger root.
•2-4 slices of Red Korean Ginseng.
Method:
•Pre-soak dry Bird’s Nest. See pre-soaking instructions.
•Drain the water using a strainer.
•Place chicken bones, the breast and ginseng in 6 cups of water. Add the green onions. Bring to boil and then simmer for 45 minutes. Discard the bones and the green onion. Salt to taste.
•Add Benevolence Bird’s Nest (pre-soaked and stewed) in the bowl.
•Serve hot.

4. Bird’s Nest Egg Tart

Ingredients:
•4 grams (half a piece) of dry Benevolence Nest Bird’s Nest.
•240 grams of flour.
•1/4 tea spoon of baking powder.
•120 grams of butter.
•2-3 table spoon of cold water.
For the Filling:
•1 1/2 measuring cups of water.
•6 eggs.
•1/4 measuring cup of evaporated milk.
Seasoning:
•1/8 tsp salt.
•150g sugar.
•1/2 tsp vanilla essence (extract).
Method:
•Pre-soak and stew the dry Bird’s Nest. See instructions.
•Short crust pastry: Sift flour, salt and baking powder together. Add in butter and 2-3 tbsp cold water; rub into dough.
•Fillings: Pour water and sugar into saucepan; boil over low heat until sugar melts. Whisk eggs; pour in bowl which contains evaporated milk and vanilla essence. Slowly pour the water with sugar into whisked egg mixture; stir well and filter out residues. Let cool.
•Roll dough into thin sheet with rolling pin. Cut tart crusts out from dough with round cookie-shaped cutter; press well into tart molds. Pour some Bird’s Nest into each tart.
•Pour egg mixture in to fill around 70% to 80% of the tarts. Bake at 200 degree Celsius for 7 minutes.
•Serve.

5. Bird’s Nest with Rock Sugar

Ingredients:
•8 grams (a piece) of dry Benevolence Nest Bird’s Nest.
•40 grams of rock sugar.
•2 cups of water.
Method:
•Pre-soak dry Bird’s Nest. See pre-soaking instructions.
•Drain the water using a strainer.
•Prepare rock sugar syrup. Put some rock sugar in a cooking pot and add 2 cups of hot water. Stir from time to time while simmering until the rock sugar melts completely. Generally, we recommend using 20 grams of rock sugar for every cup (250 ml) of water.
•Place the Bird’s Nest in the bowl, then add rock sugar syrup.
•Steam for 30 minutes.
•Serve hot or cold.

Bird's Nest Soup Recipes

Bird's Nest Soup Recipes

Discover ways to cook Bird’s Nest and preserve it's nutrients to maximize absorption to body.

1. Mango Pudding with Bird's Nest

Ingredients :
•8 grams (1 piece) of dry Benevolence Bird’s Nest.
•1 mango.
•2 packs of pudding powder.
•560 ml of boiled water.
•340 ml of evaporated milk.
Method:
•Pre-soak and stew the dry Bird’s Nest. See instructions.
•Peel and core mangoes, cut into small pieces.
•Mix beaten egg and 100ml evaporated milk together. Set aside.
•Put pudding powder into bowl first and fill in boiled water. Mix it.
•Put into 240ml evaporated milk, add mango pieces.
•Stir gelatin with boiled water, and put the mixture into the pudding-water bowl. Add milk and cool-boiled water. Add (pre-soaked and stewed) Benevolence Bird’s Nest, mango pieces and mix it. Let it sit and cool. Reserve some of Benevolence Bird’s Nest (pre-soaked and stewed) for topping.
•Put the mixture into small moulds. Refrigerate until it set (3-4 hours).
•Tap the molds gently to release the pudding on to serving plates. Put the remaining Benevolence Bird’s Nest (pre-soaked and stewed) with rock sugar on top of each pudding.
•Serve cold.

2. Almond Pudding with Bird’s Nest

Ingredients:
•8 grams (a piece) of dry Benevolence Nest Bird’s Nest.
•Almond extract.
•2 packs of pudding powder.
•560 ml of boiled water.
•340 ml of evaporated milk.
•Fruit cocktail (from a can).
Method:
•Pre-soak dry Bird’s Nest. See pre-soaking instructions.
•Drain the water using a strainer.
•Prepare rock sugar syrup. Put some rock sugar in a cooking pot and add 2 cups of hot water. Stir from time to time while simmering until the rock sugar melts completely. Generally, we recommend using 20 grams of rock sugar for every cup (250 ml) of water.
•Place the Bird’s Nest in the bowl, then add rock sugar syrup.
•Steam for 30 minutes, then remove the water using a strainer.
•Put pudding powder into bowl first and fill in boiled water. Mix it.
•Put into 240ml evaporated milk, add 2 table spoons of almond extract.
•Stir gelatin with boiled water, and put the mixture into the pudding-water bowl. Add milk and cool-boiled water. Let it sit and cool.
•Put Benevolence Bird’s Nest (pre-soaked and stewed) with rock sugar on top of the almond pudding.
•Add fruit cocktail to the almond pudding.
•Serve cold.

3. Sugar Free Strawberry Jello with Bird’s Nest

Ingredients:
•8 grams (a piece) of dry Benevolence Nest Bird’s Nest.
•Sugar Free Jello powder.
•4 pieces of strawberries.
•4 cups of water.
Method:
•Pre-soak dry Bird’s Nest. See pre-soaking instructions.
•Drain the water using a strainer.
•Prepare rock sugar syrup. Put some rock sugar in a cooking pot and add 2 cups of hot water. Stir from time to time while simmering until the rock sugar melts completely. Generally, we recommend using 20 grams of rock sugar for every cup (250 ml) of water.
•Steam for 30 minutes, then remove the water using a strainer.
•Boil 4 cups of water. Remove from heat, then pour in the Jello powder. Stir until the powder completely dissolves.
•Put the mixture into moulds. Refrigerate until it set (3-4 hours).
•Put Benevolence Bird’s Nest (pre-soaked and stewed) with rock sugar on top of the Jello.
•Add slices strawberries.
•Serve cold.

Fake vs. Real Bird's Nest

Fake vs. Real Bird's Nest

Consumers’ Guide to Choosing Real/Natural Bird’s Nest:

•Avoid Colored Bird’s Nest

All colored (i.e., blood red, yellow, etc.) Bird’s Nest are fake. All colored nests are ordinary Bird’s Nest that have been dyed, resulting in excessive nitrite levels. (http://foodsafety.suencs.com/archives/18586). Some dishonest vendors apply red dye to their Bird’s Nest in order to fetch higher prices. Nitrite is used as a preservative in curing meat, and to make meat redder. (http://foodsafety.suencs.com/archives/18686).

•Avoid Bird’s Nest that are uniformly snow white.

The lower part of the nests is naturally darker than the body of the nests. Bird’s Nest that are uniformly snow white most likely have been bleached with chemicals.

•Avoid snow white ‘wild/cave nests’.

Wild/cave nests are naturally darker than farmed nests as they contain higher level of impurities and debris. Snow white ‘wild/cave’ nests have been bleached with chemicals.

•Natural texture and fibers should be visible on the nest’s surface.

Natural/real Bird’s Nest have dense texture on its surface. The texture is made up of noticeable irregular thick and thin fibers, the denser the better. The threads of the interior body should be loose and intercrossed. All Bird’s Nest has to undergo feather and impurities removal process, thus creating tiny cracks in between threads. Therefore, a few cracks can be visible even on high quality Bird’s Nest.
In contrast, fake and/or lower quality nests lack texture. Lower quality Bird’s Nest are glued so as to lock up the water content, creating the appearance of dry-looking surface and thicker body. The glue makes it harder for the nests to be broken. Lacking texture, glue-treated Bird’s Nest often has smooth and glossy surface, which is the result of the bonding of the gluing material and the Bird’s Nest into a sheet.

•Natural nests have pleasant, elegant, egg like smell.

Natural Bird’s Nest delivers a natural slight egg-like smell that intensifies after soaking. Fake Bird’s Nest, on the other hand, (such as those made from pig’s skin or algae) do not deliver the natural egg-like aroma of real Bird’s Nest. Fake nests have unpleasant odor, such as oily and/or algae smell. Lower quality nests that had undergone chemical treatment release unpleasant chemical odor after cooking.

•Feathers.

Minimal number of feathers should be found in soaked natural Bird’s Nest. If there is none, chemical bleaching might have been applied on the nest.

Choosing Good Bird’s Nest

Choosing Good Bird’s Nest

Bird’s Nest are mainly produced in Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Burma and Hainan Province in Southern China. The texture and taste of Bird’s Nest vary with the swiftlet’s habitat. Compared with cave nest, farmed nest is cleaner, softer and smoother in texture; and thus, shorter soaking/stewing time. Cave nests are mainly found in Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia, whereas house nests are mostly produced in Indonesia.

Good Bird’s Nest should possess one or more of the following qualities:

•Fine and firm texture
•Thick and big size, boat-shape
•Slight fishy smell
•Dry touching feel (little moisture content)
•Minimal amount of feathers
•Smaller edge size

Bird’s nest to avoid:

•Fake Color
It has been known that some unethical businessmen apply bleach or fumigate to low-value white Bird’s Nest to change its color to red or yellow, so as to disguise it as high-value bloody red or yellow Bird’s Nest. It is hard to sort them out (by layman) before soaking. Experienced customer could differentiate by Bird’s Nest unique natural color. Cut out the Bird’s Nest corner portion after expansion through soaking, it will appear in white color.
Fortunately, Company’s Nests are 100% natural white in color, without the use of chemicals or bleaching agents.
•Additives
Glued Bird’s Nest is usually found in cup-shape Bird’s Nest. Unethical businessmen apply flour, egg white, fish glue powder, glue powder, gum, starch or other gelling agents to mend the cracks on Bird’s Nest. These kinds of gluing materials bear a little vinegar taste and can cause the soaking water to become turbid and slightly sticky.
By apply these additives, loose Bird’s Nest threads on its inner body will become tight and its body surface will look glossy without any cracks. This kind of Bird’s Nest is not easy to be broken. Consumers will have to pay more for the 20-30% extra weight, not to mention the additives they have to digest.
Our customers can be rest assured that Company’s Nests’ Bird’s Nests are free of any additives.
•Algae Bird’s Nest
Commonly found in the marketed Bird’s Nest cakes or cakes made of Bird’s Nest threads. Algae is cut into thin threads, bleached and mingled with Bird’s Nest cakes or Bird’s Nest threads. They are hardly detectable. Algae Bird’s Nest is flawless white, barely lustrous, rough and stiff. Hardly detectable though, the best way to differentiate is by its smell since algae Bird’s Nest usually bears a little acidic scent, especially after soaking.
Company sells only 100% pure Bird’s Nest. Our staffs are happy to explain to you in details about Bird’s Nest knowledge and help you to differentiate genuine and fake Bird’s Nest.

Frequently asked questions about Bird's Nest

Frequently asked questions about Bird's Nest

Bird’s Nest is the saliva produced by a special species of swallow called the swiftlet while building the nest. The saliva glues with other impurities (such as feathers) to form the nest. Among the different species of swiftlets, golden swiftlet’s saliva has the purest protein content and the highest nutrient value.

1.How to pre-soak and expand Bird’s Nest?

It is necessary to have Bird’s Nest soaked and expanded before stewing. “soak & expand” means to soak Bird’s Nest in cool and clean water so that it can be totally infiltrated with water and absorb maximum water content. Different types of Bird’s Nest have different soaking time, varying from 3-7 hours. Wild/cave nests require at least 24 hours of soaking time. Bird’s nest will expand after soaking. Minimal amount of feathers might be found in pure natural Bird’s Nest after expansion. Use tweezers to remove them or rinse the Bird’s Nest several times.
Procedure:
1.Soak Bird’s Nest for some time first (different types of Bird’s Nest need different time of soaking), the water should cover the whole Bird’s Nest so that it can absorb maximum water content. Refresh soaking water once or twice during soaking.
2.Use tweezers to remove the feathers. (For the elderly or persons having bad eye sight, perform this by placing Bird’s Nest on a piece of white cloth to reduce tiredness).
3.Put the soaked Bird’s Nest in a strainer to filter the water.
4.Rinse the Bird’s Nest several times. Tear off the Bird’s Nest tissue and wash away the impurities with running water.

2.How to cook Bird’s Nest?

All types of Bird’s Nest should be prepared with indirect heat (i.e., stewing or steaming). One should take caution not to boil the nests. Please cook the nests after they have been pre-soaked (see above for pre-soaking).
Stewing Tips:
•When stewing, the water must cover the entire Bird’s Nest, but the condensed level depends on individual’s preference.
•The water level inside the stewing mug (including Bird’s Nest, water and other ingredients) should not be higher than 70% of the stewing mug’s height. The water level will rise once the heated ingredients expand.
•Bring water to boil, then reduce the heat down to simmer.
•The ‘mitogenic stimulation factor’ contained in Bird’s Nest is active at around 80 degree Celsius. It will lose its effectiveness if direct boiling is applied on Bird’s Nest causing damage to its proteins at high temperature. Therefore, always remember to apply low heat to simmer Bird’s Nest and keep the temperature inside the stewing pot at around 80 degree Celsius.
•You may choose to stew the Bird’s Nest with an electronic stewing pot which is safe and convenient. All you need to do is to adjust the heat intensity to low level.
•Add rock sugar at the end of stewing process to make the Bird’s Nest taste better.
•For hygienic consideration, please consume Bird’s Nest with a thoroughly clean spoon. Reheat the Bird’s Nest when necessary. However, please do not make use of microwave oven since high temperature will spoil the nutrient of Bird’s Nest.

3.Is there any special method to treat Bird’s Nest corner?

Yes. It is preferable to cut the corners out from the Bird’s Nest body and soak them separately to allow longer soaking time. Bird’s nest corner is the first saliva secreted by swiftlet and becomes the hardest portion on both edges of Bird’s Nest; therefore, it has the highest viscosity and needs longer soaking time (about 6 to 8 hours). In order to make it more water absorbable, it should be torn to into smaller pieces before soaking. Bird’s nest corner has bigger expandability than Bird’s Nest body and has better mouth-feel.

4.Why stains are found on Bird’s Nest?

Swiftlets may accidentally break the eggs during hatching and the nest is thus stained. Although stains do not look good, they will disappear after soaking. The presence of stains does not affect the nutritional value of Bird’s Nest.

5.Why red Bird’s Nest is red in color?

There are some misconceptions about red Bird’s Nest. The most common misconception is that the red-colored Bird’s Nests are formed by swiftlets which vomit their blood to build the nests. Another common misconception is that the red Bird’s Nests are produced by a different species of swiftlet which consumes different kinds of water and/or food.
However, contrary to these popular misconceptions, swiftlets do not vomit blood, neither do they consume different kinds of water and food. All the so called “blood-red cubilose” on the market is fake. All the blood red nests are ordinary Bird’s Nest that have been dyed, resulting in excessive nitrite levels. (http://foodsafety.suencs.com/archives/18586). Some dishonest vendors apply red dye to their Bird’s Nest in order to fetch higher prices. Nitrite is used as a preservative in curing meat, and to make meat redder. (http://foodsafety.suencs.com/archives/18686). Hence, red Bird’s Nests may be harmful rather than beneficial to humans.
For the foregoing reasons, BBNest only sells only the highest quality, pure natural, white Bird’s Nest.

6.Is cave Bird’s Nest better than farmed Bird’s Nest?

No. Cave Bird’s Nest are more limited in quantity; and hence, the higher prices. However, unknown to many consumers, cave nests are not better than farmed nests. In fact, cave nests generally contain more foreign materials and feathers than farmed nests. As a result, cave nests are generally darker in color than farmed nests. Cave nests also have naturally thicker texture.

7.Do Bird’s Nest that contain feathers have substandard quality?

No. It is normal for Bird’s Nest containing some hair feathers. Since Bird’s Nest is the home of swiftlets, it is natural that detached feathers would fall on the nest during swiftlets’ activities. Our workers meticulously and thoroughly remove these feathers. However, it is possible that a very minimal amount of feathers would remain due to their microscopic size. Bleaching is the only way to make all the feathers disappear. Bird’s Nest that do not contain feathers at all, most likely have undergone chemical bleaching. BBNest does not use any chemical or beaching agents in our processes. We sell only pure natural nests that are processed with chemical free and bleach free methods.

8.Why are cracks found on Bird’s Nest?

For easy removing of feathers from Bird’s Nest, workers may squeeze out narrow space from the nest tissue to pick out the feathers. However, this will not affect the quality of Bird’s Nest.

9.Is that the color of Bird’s Nest the whiter the better?

Bird’s Nest have dark, light, bright and dim appearances. Their natural color is yellowish or ivory. This is because the food they eat is not purely white, and so is their saliva. If the Bird’s Nest color is pure white, it may have probably been bleached.

10.What makes Bird’s Nest have rejuvenation efficacy?

It is believed that the water-soluble protein of Bird’s Nest contains both Mitogenic Stimulation Factor and Epidermic Growth Factor which some people believe can boost cell growth and tissue repair, as well as regulate the function of the endocrine system, thus help maintain fine skin.

11.Is old stock of Bird’s Nest better than fresh Bird’s Nest?

No. Bird’s nest comprises mainly of protein. The nutritional value of Bird’s Nest will decrease after stored for a long time. It is suggested not to store Bird’s Nest for over one year.

12.Bird’s nest dissolved in water after stewing. Is it fake ?

The stewing of Bird’s Nest does not require long time. The stewing time differs according to the type of Bird’s Nest.

13.Why use indirect heat to cook Bird’s Nest?

It is hard to control the fire temperature when applying direct boiling. When Bird’s Nest is heated to high temperature, its water-soluble proteins may be destroyed, losing its nutritional value. Simmering keeps the temperature of Bird’s Nest at around 80 degree Celsius. This way, the water-soluble proteins are preserved - the aroma and nutrition of Bird’s Nest are retained.

14.Why we have to stew Bird’s Nest with rock sugar, but not brown sugar or white sugar?

According to Chinese medicine practitioners, rock sugar is the purest amongst other sugar. They believe that rock sugar is nourishing and can lubricate lung and supplement body energy. White sugar is easy to induce phlegm and brown sugar is hot in nature. So, rock sugar is the best sweetening agent to stew Bird’s Nest.

15.How to make rock sugar syrup?

First, put some rock sugar in a cooking pot and add hot water. Stir from time to time while simmering until the rock sugar melts completely. Pour the rock sugar syrup into a bottle after it cools down and place in a refrigerator. Add rock sugar syrup to stewed Bird’s Nest when served, according to your own taste. Generally, we recommend using 20 grams of rock sugar for every cup (250 ml) of water.

16.How to prepare Bird’s Nest congee?

First, stew Bird’s Nest with low heat. When done, mix it with a pot of cooking congee right before it reaches its boiling point. Boil together for about 3 to 5 minutes.

17.What is the appropriate amount of Bird’s Nest for consumption?

1.1 to 2 tablespoonfuls daily, or 1 to 2 bowls weekly.
2.Bird’s nest is best absorbed when taken with an empty stomach, preferably in the morning.
3.Consuming Bird’s Nest continuously increases its efficacy.
4.For beginner, it is suggested to take Bird’s Nest daily. Frequency can be lowered after a certain period (say half a year). If taken every other day, stick to consistency.

18.What are the things we have to take note when taking Bird’s Nest?

1.It is recommended to cook Bird’s Nest by steaming (indirect heat) method. Direct cooking or boiling will lead to loss of its nutrient.
2.Bird’s nest should be steamed without adding any flavorings.
3.Steamed Bird’s Nest soup and Bird’s Nest congee are common for serving at home.
4.When Bird’s Nest is served salty, add salt right before serving. If salt is added at the beginning of steaming, salt will decompose Bird’s Nest evolving shrinkage and crispy results. You may choose to steam Bird’s Nest together with chicken soup or mushroom soup instead.
5.When Bird’s Nest is served sweet, add rock sugar syrup 15 minutes before steaming is done so as to preserve Bird’s Nest quality. You may choose to prepare the serving together with coconut juice or almond juice.

19.Is it seasonal to consume Bird’s Nest?

No. Consumption of Bird’s Nest is fine for all seasons. In summer, serving of refrigerated Bird’s Nest together with fresh fruits or cool milk is delicious and healthy. In winter, serve Bird’s Nest soup together with meat can produce nourishing and stomach warming effect.

20.Can Bird’s Nest be consumed when a person is in “Cool” or “Warm” body characteristic?

Yes. Bird’s nest is mild and calm in nature with plain taste. Therefore, it can be taken by any person having either “Cool” or “Warm” body characteristic.

21.Can a person catch a cold from consuming Bird’s Nest?

No. According to ‘The Dictionary of Chinese Medication’, people having their lungs and stomachs in cold and weak state are not advisable to take Bird’s Nest. Therefore, a person suffering from cold should eat Bird’s Nest only after recovery.

22.What is the best way to preserve fresh Bird’s Nest?

Store the Bird’s Nest in the vegetable compartment of a refrigerator after purchase, or, on the day of purchase, and then put it inside a crisper or an airtight box. Bird’s nest can be stored for a long time in this way.

Bird’s Nest's Cleaning Process

Bird’s Nest's Cleaning Process

This is sad but the truth is this. Bird’s Nest contains very high soluble protein which helps in our epidemic growth and has anti-aging properties. However, most Bird’s Nests available in the market are processed using bleaching agents, harmful chemicals and contain preservatives. Thus, destroying the precious nutrients - the soluble protein found in Bird’s Nests.

We take Bird’s Nest's cleaning seriously.

Each piece of Bird's Nest was cleaned thoroughly using only Reverse Osmosis Distilled Water. Other dirt and feathers were plucked out painstakingly using forceps. This is a long and tedious process but that is how we deliver quality Bird’s Nest products. Right from the right harvesting methods to our stringent quality control, only can we ensure the most authentic and cleaned Bird’s Nests safe for you and yor family's consumption. Your health in our responsibility!
Traditionally, the Bird’s Nests are heated dry using an oven. This resulted in a huge loss of Bird’s Nests nutrients after the direct heat.
At Company Bird’s Nest, we use a "Freeze-Drying" method to dry every piece of Bird’s Nest. This drying method is done by freezing water moisture and sublimate it to gas, hence all nutrients are able to perserved.
Bird’s Nests are a good absorbent. Swiflets' Bird’s Nests tend to easily absorb dirts and chemical elements from their surrounding. Thus, the environment is one of the most crucial factor that affects the quality of Bird’s Nest. At Company Bird’s Nests, we build our bird houses organically and use advanced technology to maintain the bird house's humidity and cleanliness. The unqiue design of our bird house is done to prevent the invasion of pests. Certainly, the Bird’s Nests collected from our bird houses is definitely top in quality!

Bird’s Nests Cleaning Process:

Premium grade and quality raw Bird’s Nest were chosen in a temperture controlled environment to eliminate heavy metals contamination.
Next, skilled and well-trained workers were employed to separate the feathers and dirt using tweezers.
Using only reverse osmosis distilled water to ensure the cleanliness of each Bird’s Nests and the natural shape of the nest is preserved as it is.
Stringent quality control are carried out to ensure the each and every piece of Company Bird’s Nests achieved the specification set. Cleaned Bird’s Nest were categorized according to its grade.

Frequently Asked Questions of Bird's Nest Soup

Frequently Asked Questions of Bird's Nest Soup

How is Bird’s Nest produced?

Bird’s Nest is produced by Swiftlets (Collocalia species). They use a glutinous secretion, also known as “nest cement” to bind together materials for nest building, or construct a whole nest with it. The nest cement is secreted from a pair of sublingual glands located beneath the tongue of the swiftlet.
A Swiftlet Bird’s Nest is built primarily for laying eggs and housing the baby Swiftlets. After the eggs have been laid and hatched, the baby swiftlets will remain in the nest until it is able to fly away independently. The Bird’s Nest becomes abandoned and will never be re-used. If not harvested, scavengers such as ants, lizards and cockroaches will consume the Bird’s Nest.

Why are some Bird’s Nest different in colour?

Bird’s Nest contains minerals like copper, iron, zinc, manganese, potassium and sodium. When these minerals are oxidized, they will result in a colour change to the Bird’s Nest. It is inadvisable to consume heavily-coloured Bird’s Nest.

What is the look, smell, feel, of pure Bird’s Nest?

Pure Bird’s Nest has a translucent look and free from impurities under examination of the naked eye.
All Bird’s Nest varies in shape and sizes so a uniformly shaped Bird’s Nest is likely to have been unnaturally altered during the cleaning process. Pure Bird’s Nest originally smells similar to the scent of egg white. Pure Bird’s Nest should be dried to avoid natural accumulation of sodium nitrite.
(The sodium in Bird’s Nest, nitrogen in air and water will react to form nitrite). Pure Bird’s Nest is quite fragile and can be broken easily.

How to identify the Genuine Bird's Nest?

Bird’s Nest is an expensive and nutritious product. Thus, it is important to distinguish a genuine piece of Bird’s Nest. In the market, there are many unethical businessmen who would increase the weight of Bird’s Nest by adding additives like white fungus, jelly and animal skin.
Appearance: Good and genuine nests consist of two main types of filaments:
The outer layer that has longer and bigger filaments whereas the inner part has finer, shorter filaments.
After Cooking: When double boiled for 1-2 hours the Bird’s Nest inner filaments become water-soluble.
The outer filaments contain mainly minerals; it is less soluble but gives Bird’s Nest its signature fibrous taste and appearance.
Odour: During double boiling a fine scent of near albumin smell will occur.
Much like the smell of faint cooked egg white.

How do I store Bird’s Nest?

Bird’s Nest can be stored in any container that is dry and preferably airtight.
Bird’s Nest can be kept at room temperature or even in the refrigerator.
Company's Bird’s Nest is the driest Bird’s Nest on the market and our Bird’s Nest can be kept at room temperature for ten years or more.

How often can I eat Bird’s Nest? Can I eat too much Bird’s Nest?

Bird’s Nest can be consumed daily. An average person can consume anything between 3g to 5g of dry Bird’s Nest. Any excess consumption will be discharged by the body.

Who is unsuitable to eat Bird’s Nest? Who is suitable?

Bird’s Nest is suitable for all age groups but some small minority of people who are allergic to protein may find it unsuitable. A small sip of Bird’s Nest soup will make their lips swollen.

When is the best time to consume Bird’s Nest?

It is best to drink Bird’s Nest soup before sleep as the rich antioxidants will help the body to eradicte free radicals as the body heals during our sleep.

What are the health benefits of eating Bird’s Nest?

From the chemical analysis report of pure Bird’s Nest, we can identify soluble amino acids that will help to repair body cells and generate new cells. The antioxidant helps to eradicate free radicals in the body. Bird’s Nest also contains EGF(epidermal growth factor) which produces an anti aging effect, making regular Bird’s Nest consumers young and radiant looking. Many clinical trials of using Bird’s Nest as an anti-cancer food is now currently being conducted.

What are the nutritious contents found in Bird’s Nest?

Protein
About half the Bird’s Nest comprises of protein. Protein is a macronutrient that the human body needs in relatively large amounts. First, it provides the essential amino acids that our own tissues can't produce. Secondly, protein provides nitrogen to produce non-essential amino acids and other nitrogen-containing compounds.
Amino Acid
Bird’s Nest contains amino acids such as arginine cystein, histidine tryptophan, etc. Amino acids can be best described as the construction blocks from which protein is made.
Minerals
Various types of minerals like zinc, copper, iron, sodium, phosphorous have also been found in analyses of Bird’s Nest. These minerals are essential as our need for oxygen to sustain all mental and physical processes and for our total well-being. They are important in maintaining all physiological processes as they made up the constituents of teeth, bones, tissues, blood, muscle, and nerve cells.
Antioxidant
Antioxidants are substances or nutrients in our foods which can prevent or slow the oxidative damage to our body. Health problems such as heart disease, muscular degeneration, diabetes, cancer, etc. are all contributed by oxidative damage. Antioxidants may also boast our immune defense and therefore lower the risk of cancer and infection.

House Bird’s Nest is better than Cave Bird’s Nest? True or not?

In Malaysia, cave Bird’s Nest are mainly harvested from natural caves in the states of Sarawak and Sabah on Borneo Island. The famous caves are located at Niah, Kakus, Baram and Tinjar.
The harvesters often face considerable danger when harvesting these Bird’s Nests. Since cave Bird’s Nests are formed by free, naturally-living swiftlets, some people consider them to be more valuable than Bird’s Nests found in houses. Thus, cave Bird’s Nests often fetch a higher price as compared to house Bird’s Nest.
However, unknown to many consumers in the market, cave Bird’s Nests generally contain more foreign materials and feathers than house nests.  Besides, cave Bird’s Nest are exposed to the risk of heavy metals contamination from external environmental factors. So, consume cave Bird’s Nest at your own risk!

Red Blood Bird's Nest (Red Bird’s Nest) Is Not As Good As You Think!

It is believed that the red-coloured “blood Bird’s Nest” is specially prized because they are formed by swiftlets that vomit their blood to build the nest.
There is also another belief that the “blood Bird’s Nest” was formed by a different species of swiftlet which consumes different kinds of water and food.
Contrary to these beliefs, swiftlets do not vomit blood; neither do they consume different kinds of water and food. In general, Bird’s Nest act like sponges. They absorb the chemical elements from the environment such as iron from the cave walls, dirty waters and poisons. Hence, “blood Bird’s Nest” may be harmful rather than beneficial to human beings.
Some dishonest Bird’s Nest traders even dyed their Bird’s Nest red in order to fetch a higher price. So, play it safe – choose only pure Bird’s Nest!

Bird’s Nest Soup

A bowl of Bird’s Nest soup (冰糖燕窝) is a prized (or should I say pricey) Chinese delicacy. Bird’s Nest (swallow’s salivia nests) are expensive due to the difficulty in harvesting. Its drink is said to do wonders for skin, throat and lungs, as well as boosting overall health and well-being.

Introduction:

Lots of Asian celebrities consume this daily to look beautiful! When cooked, the Bird’s Nest takes on a gelatin texture, making it a lovely tong shui (“sweet soup”; Chinese dessert). Whenever my mum makes Bird’s Nest’s soup in the past, she stew it the simplest way possible (as with all my mum’s recipes) – just Bird’s Nest, water and rock sugar. When I cooked mine, I added a few ginseng slices though it is purely optional. Check out my mum’s tips below for making a homely bowl of double-boiled Bird’s Nest soup.

Bird’s Nest Soup

Mum’s Tips for Home-Stewed Bird’s Nest Soup

1. Rather than weighing the Bird’s Nest, we go by pieces per person. For two persons, my mum used 2 small pieces or 1 large piece. This equates to about 5-8 grams per person. We use 1 rice bowl of water per person.
2. Although red dates are a common addition in Bird’s Nest soup, my family omitted them. According to my mother, the cheap red dates will act like a sponge which absorb the goodness of the Bird’s Nest soup (though it’s not so bad if you eat the red dates).
3. My family prefer to enjoy Bird’s Nest in the purest way – just Bird’s Nest, water and rock sugar. If I cook it, I sometimes add American ginseng slices. If you find ginseng bitter or intend to consume at night (it improves alertness/提神), omit it.
4. Don’t fuss over prepping the Bird’s Nest, because the ones sold nowadays are usually very clean. We simply soak the Bird’s Nest pieces in cold water for about 1/2 to 1 hr until softened, but not so long that the Bird’s Nest disintegrates into small bits. If there are any impurities such as debris and feathers, pluck them out using kitchen tweezer, drain and they are ready for cooking.
5. Just as we do not soak Bird’s Nest for too long, we also avoid stewing them for too long. The older folks especially dislike it when the stewed Bird’s Nest soup do not have solid chunks after cooking. We usually stew them for half to 1 hour in a double-boiler.
6. For best results, double-boil instead of using direct flame. We use a slow cooker as the double-boiler.
7. It is said that Bird’s Nest soup is best consumed at room temperature, or chilled, on an empty stomach (such as just before bed). For maximum absorption, do not eat “heaty” snacks or medication a few hours before and after drinking Bird’s Nest soup.

How to make Bird’s Nest soup

How to make Bird’s Nest soup

Chinese Bird’s Nest soup is one bizarrely cool dish to get tweeting about

The bird is the word

Bird’s Nest soup may sound like a crazy Chinese urban legend of a dish, you know, one so bonkers it can’t be real or it’s just a funny lost-in-translation name, but the delicacy is indeed an authentic one. Rather from being made from twigs and bits of moss, they’re made from the hardened saliva from swiftlet nests and dissolved in a broth.

If that still doesn’t sound too appetising, don’t worry, today they’re harvested entirely for human consumption and super-high in minerals like calcium, magnesium and potassium. Believed to enhance the immune system, aid digestion and improve libido Bird’s Nest soup has been keeping the Chinese healthy (and horny) since 500 AD during the Tang dynasty. A dish for the elite, it was only imperial nobility who dined on the unique broth. According to legend it was the great admiral Cheng Ho who bought the Bird’s Nest to Southeast Asia for the Chinese Emperor.
These days, whilst still a rare delicacy, Bird’s Nest soup is easily accessible for mere mortals. In Chinatown you can find the sacred dish at Gerrard Street’s Royal Dragon or if you want to prepare it at home, dried nests can be bought from SeeWoo supermarket on Lisle Street.

Here’s how to make your Bird’s Nest soup.

METHOD:
Soak the Bird’s Nest for 6 hours or leave overnight until it has softened and expanded
Remove and chop into portions, allocate 15g per person
Add the portions to the chicken stock with the ginger and oil and stew for 20 minutes over heat until the nests have dissolved
Add seasoning or adjust stock levels to taste then it’ll be ready to serve!

Healing Powers of Birds' Nest Soup Remain Mysterious

At as much as $4,500 per pound, edible Bird’s Nest are among the most expensive foods on the planet.
Made from the saliva of cave-dwelling birds called swiftlets, the nests are dangerous to harvest, laborious to prepare and have, according to traditional Chinese medicine, a long list of health benefits.
Traditionally consumed in soup, edible Bird’s Nest are now being turned into food and drink additives as well as put into cosmetics, say two Chinese researchers who have assessed just what is known about the nutritional and medicinal properties of this expensive, and to Westerners, strange-sounding health food.
Science cannot yet explain the healing powers attributed to the soup, they conclude. Bird’s Nest "bioactivities and medicinal value are still open to question as there (is) not much scientific research on the medicinal properties," Fucui Ma and Daicheng Liu of Shandong Normal University in China write in a review article to be published in the October issue of the journal Food Research International. .
Swiftlets live in limestone caves around the Indian Ocean, in South and South East Asia, North Australia and the Pacific Islands. Males primarily build the nests, attaching them to the vertical walls of the caves. Removing them can be dangerous and painstaking work, and, depending on the type of nest, it can take one person eight hours to clean 10 nests, the researchers write.
For possibly 1,200 years, the Chinese have prepared and eaten the nests as a soup. The nests are considered to have a high nutritional and medicinal value, believed to have everything from anti-aging and anti-cancer properties to the ability to improve concentration and raise libido.
Protein is the most abundant constituent of the nests, which contain all of the essential amino acids, the building blocks out of which proteins are made. They also contain six hormones, including testosterone and estradiol, the researchers write.
The nests also contain carbohydrates, ash and a small quantity of lipids (naturally occurring molecules that include fats). Previous research has indicated that the nests contain substances that can stimulate cell division and growth, enhance tissue growth and regeneration, and that it can inhibit influenza infections.
But not everyone reacts well to them. Bird’s Nest are known to cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction.
Little research has been carried out on their biological function so far, and more is needed to better understand the qualities attributed to them, they conclude.

6 Reasons Why Bird's Nest Is The MOST Foolproof Gift For Any Mum

6 Reasons Why Bird's Nest Is The MOST Foolproof Gift For Any Mum

Because mums are #worthit

Gone are the days when I could cover drawing block with crayon scribbles, pass it to my mum, and wish her a happy Mother's Day. Now that I'm not 12 any more, it’s an annual struggle.
Once again, Mother’s Day is around the corner, and as has been the case for the past decade, I have no idea what to buy. I’m sure I’m not alone in this yearly dilemma. What's the best gift you can get for the woman who sacrificed so much for you, one that encompasses just how thankful you are?
This year, one of the brands all mums seem to love is offering special packages to celebrate Mother's Day. Company has prepared some Mother's Day hampers perfect to tell your mum you love her and want her to live till a ripe old age.
After all the cooking, nagging, and chicken essence-feeding you’ve made her do all these years, here are 6 reasons why you should give Mom the gift of Bird’s Nest for Mother’s Day.

1. She can use it to make Bird’s Nest jelly… that you also can eat

Most of us just consume Bird’s Nest straight from the bottle, but it can be used to add additional flavour and nutrients to many other dishes. It’s used to cook rice and congee, but it’s most popularly used to make Bird’s Nest jelly.
If your mom is a kitchen whiz, encourage her to experiment with using Bird’s Nest to spice up her recipes. And then you can help her eat it. Win-win.

2. It’ll keep her looking young

The best compliment Mom can receive at Chinese New Year is someone asking you “is that your mother or your sister?” It is timeless and has yet to fail.
Bird’s Nest contains proteins with amino acids, as well as substances that promote tissue regeneration and cell growth - all of which come in handy when keeping Mom’s skin youthful and fresh.
She may not admit it, but she’s trying to hold on to her youthful looks for as long as possible - this is your contribution to her noble struggle.

3. She can brag about how thoughtful her child is

Aaaand that's the last time your friends came for a stayover.
Moms love to talk about their children, and waxing lyrical about their beautiful offspring is an inevitable part of any gathering of mothers. We don’t enjoy it when they start comparing us to their friends’ kids, but we know they’re just proud and want to show us off.
Give Mom one more thing to be happy about by buying her a beautiful package of Bird’s Nest - it’s a gift with additional bragging rights.

4. Bird’s Nest is great for overall health

The 1456688th re-iteration of “when are you going to give me babies?!”
Bird’s Nest has been said to be pretty good at keeping folks in the pink of health, and being in good health generally means living longer.
Help your mom live long enough to nag your children about having children by giving her the gift of Bird’s Nest - she’ll probably be glad to have great-grandchildren to spoil, and it’s even better if she’s in good enough health to play with them as well.
Plus, Bird’s Nest has substances that boost your immunity, as well as hormones like testosterone and estradiol, which play an important role in regulating bodily functions.
And you know the good thing about not falling sick so easily? You won't need to pay for a doctor, so you have more money to spend on other things. Yessss.

5. It’s your best bet when you don’t know what to buy

Buying a handbag for your mom is like poking a sleeping tiger with a stick. Either she’ll love it, or she’ll hate it, and if she hates it you’ll feel awful for not knowing her tastes well enough and that’s not a happy feeling at all. The same goes for jewellery, shoes, and even stationery - it’s often hard to pinpoint what will be a great gift for Mom.
Plus, can we talk about the amount of effort that goes into wrapping that gift that she might not even like? I have zero ability with wrapping presents - I consider it a good day if my packages don’t end up looking like misshapen lumps.
The greatest thing about buying Bird’s Nest is that it comes pre-packaged beautifully for you - you can just hand the box to your mom without any wrapping and it’ll still look fabulous.
Company has special gift boxes for Mother’s Day that take the pain out of wrapping gifts. With pretty, colourful packaging that is both elegant and classic, Mom will probably reuse the boxes for other things the way she does with the mooncake ones. Yay for upcycling!

6. It costs less than a jade bracelet

The one good thing about Bird’s Nest is that, while it may be pricey for something that looks like regular jelly, it’s still cheaper than fancy jewellery or a branded purse - and better for your mum's health.
But at the same time, it’s not so cheap that it’ll make you seem like a penny-pinching miser. Your wallet is grateful.

Mom deserves the nicest things...

First of all, she had to give birth to you, after carrying you around for nine months. Then she and your dad had to actually raise you, which involved a lot of poop, tantrums, and whining on your part.
And let’s not forget all the times we refused to do our homework, or insisted on eating ice-cream before dinner, or ignored her instructions to wash our hands for the thousandth time. And then there were the rebellious teenage years with the awful fashion decisions and general belligerence. Yup.
After all you’ve put Mom through, she deserves a lovely gift that shows just how much you love her. And what better a gift than something that’s good for her health?

… So pamper Mom with what she wants!

Let’s run through all the benefits of Bird’s Nest as a gift: it’s good for health, it helps keep you looking young, it’s not too expensive, and it’s also a thoughtful and classic gift that everyone appreciates. What’s not to like?
But of course, when it comes to buying Bird’s Nest, there are a lot of fakes in the market, as well as plenty of concerns about whether or not the nests were ethically sourced. One way to do it is to make sure you buy from reputable places
Company has been in the business for 136 years, and they’re a familiar household name. Their products go through a stringent process of multiple checks before they reach the shelves - everything is sorted and checked manually to ensure that it’s the very best quality.
Company sells Bird’s Nest is two different forms. You can purchase raw Bird’s Nest, which are cleaned by hand and carefully inspected, to boil your own Bird’s Nest soup, or you can buy it pre-bottled for maximum convenience with all of the perks.
Whichever you choose,Company ’s Bird’s Nest come in the prettiest packages ever. Whether your mom likes beautiful bottles of Bird’s Nest in lovely, brightly-coloured boxes, or prefers more the traditional raw nests in elegant, traditional packaging, it’s the perfect gift. Plus, their Bird’s Nest has no stabiliser, no preservatives, and are sourced only from quality cave nests!
If you’ve been fretting over what to buy for your mom, your problem’s solved. Head down to Company and buy your mom a beautiful package of Bird’s Nest for Mother’s Day this year!
And if you’re too busy to head down, you can easily do all your shopping on Company ’s website - they’ve already got all the Mother’s Day hampers packaged to make your job so much easier.
What are you waiting for? It’s time to get shopping to give Mom the best present ever.

Are Bird’s Nests Vegan Food?

Edible Bird’s Nest, also know as cubilose, is a popular delicacy in Asia, made from the salivary excretions of swallows. Instead of twigs and straw, the swiftlet makes its nest from strands of gummy saliva along with other materials. The nest is created to look like a shallow cup placed on the wall of a cave. The saliva, will harden into tightly woven strands. The saliva is considered the cement that holds the entire nest together, and the strands are interwoven throughout the nest. Impurities woven into the strands must be picked out prior to consumption. Once the nests are harvested, they are cleaned and sold as a delicacy to restaurants and individuals for consumption. They are mostly harvested in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the south of China.

“Can vegetarians eat Bird’s Nests?”

In a span of 3 days, coincidentally, I have been asked this question 3 times. (1) By a FaceBook Fan who dropped us a message. (2) By a Chinese restaurant owner whom we are partnering with. (3) By a Finance and HR Head of a local IT company whom would like to engage us for our health talk.

It is a very good question, and I’m pretty sure there have been debates on whether or not Bird’s Nest is suitable for vegetarians. So, is it a nest? (which also means it is a non-living object) Or, is it an animal by-product?

Firstly, let us take a look at what edible Bird’s Nest are made of. Edible Bird’s Nest are made from the salivary excretions of swallows.The gummy saliva, will harden into tightly woven strands. The saliva is considered the cement that holds the entire nest together, and the strands are interwoven throughout the nest. Such salivary excretions is super rich in nutrients, almost 100% proteins and essential amino acids. The birds made their nests for the sole purpose of laying eggs in the nests, and they will abandon the nest after the chicks have hatched. After which, these nests would be harvest by humans as health/tonic foods.

Are Bird’s Nests Vegan Food?

Next, we consider the common definition of a vegetarian: a person who does not eat or does not believe in eating meat, fish, fowl, or, in some cases, any food derived from animals, such as eggs, milk, or cheese, but subsists on vegetables, fruits, nuts, grain, etc. In additional, the choice of being a vegetarian may also be influenced by either moral, religious, and/or health reasons.

An interesting comparison is this: Can one compare the saliva of the swalllows, or swiftlets, to say milk or cheese, which are also derived from within an animal? Or, should one view the nest as a natural object, which contains a high concentration of amino acids?

Depending on how one interprets the definition of vegetarian, and what is one’s reason(s) behind being a vegetarian, Bird’s Nests (which technically is an animal’s saliva and not an animal’s body part) may, or may not be considered as vegetarian food. It would be up to the individual to consider the above factors, and form an opinion on his/her own based on their beliefs.

Just as there are vegetarians who consume eggs and cheese, there are vegetarians who consume edible Bird’s Nest.

What are Bird’s Nests

Edible Bird’s Nest, also know as cubilose, is a popular delicacy in Asia, made from the salivary excretions of swallows. Instead of twigs and straw, the swiftlet makes its nest from strands of gummy saliva along with other materials. The nest is created to look like a shallow cup placed on the wall of a cave. The saliva, will harden into tightly woven strands. The saliva is considered the cement that holds the entire nest together, and the strands are interwoven throughout the nest. Impurities woven into the strands must be picked out prior to consumption. Once the nests are harvested, they are cleaned and sold as a delicacy to restaurants and individuals for consumption. They are mostly harvested in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the south of China.

Bird’s Nest are considered to be high in nutrients; especially proteins, calcium, potassium and other minerals, traditionally believed to provide a wondrous array of health benefits. These include aiding digestion, soothing sore throats, alleviating asthma, improving focus, and an overall benefit to the immune system.

Classification of Bird’s Nests and how to choose Bird’s Nests

Bird’s Nest is a general term used to describe the nests of birds belonging to the Apodidae family.

The key categories for consumption are:

1. saliva nest (Bai Yan, being more than 90% pure saliva),
2. feather nest (mixture of saliva and feathers), and
3. grass nest (mixture of grass, twigs, feathers and saliva).

Among these, saliva nest is the most popular, and the best types. Bird’s Nests can also be classified as(1) cave nest and (2) house nest, and the nests are named according to where they are built and harvested. So, what are cave nests and what are house nests?

Some people thought that house nests are made or manufactured, OR, they think that the swiftlets which build their nests in houses are reared birds.

Not true.

Swiftlets naturally build their nests in caves, but it is dangerous, difficult, and time consuming for man to harvest the cave nests from very high cave walls and cave ceilings. Cave nests generally cost more. Also, the environment in a cave is less hygienic and cannot be controlled. More efforts are required to thoroughly clean cave nests.

So, man is smart. They started building tall airy structures, which stimulate the conditions in a cave, in the natural habitat of the swiftlets. To attract the birds to come into these houses to build their nests. The environment in these houses are much cleaner than in a cave and can be controlled. Which also means, better quality and larger nests can be harvested from bird houses, and at a lower cost too.

Saliva nests come in the colours blood red, orange, yellow and white, generally depending on the colour of the natural food which the bird consumes everyday. Therefore, the colour of the Bird’s Nests is not necessarily an indication of their nutritional values. White nests, being “young nests” made from pure fresh saliva of the birds, are a common type of house nests that are harvested in the early stages of the life cycle of the Bird’s Nests.

Grading of nests

Saliva white nest produced by swiftlets (Bai Yan) are considered the one of the purest, finest and most nutritious. They are sold in different shapes, hence the grading of nests (listed from lowest to highest grade) as follows: nest chips, nest thread, nest cake, nest stripes and complete “cup-shaped” whole nest. Complete cup shaped nests, also known as whole nests, or Yan Zhan (燕盏), are the most valuable ones, typically graded Super A Grade.