- Bird's nest is a delicacy found in Chinese-speaking countries across Asia.
- It's made from the hardened saliva of a swiftlet and can fetch up to S$3,500 ($2,600 USD) per kilogram.
- Swiftlet farms have sprung up to meet customer demand — but they're not without controversy.
What is bird's nest made of?
Male swiftlets build the nest with the saliva, which forms a type of salivary glue (imagine a cement) for their nest. Different varieties and grades of bird's nest are available. Harvested bird's nest can be cooked into a soup or drink.
How do you make Bird's Nest Tea?
Can be prepared with rock sugar, ginseng, red dried dates, dried longans, fresh ginger, egg white, pandan leaves. Soak dried bird's nest overnight in cold water to soften and expand. Little research has been performed on biological function of Bird's Nest. Saliva has high levels of calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium.
What is bird’s nest soup?
The nests that go into making bird’s nest soup, come specifically from swiftlets. Constructed by the male swiftlet in preparation for his wifey to lay eggs, the nest is made almost entirely out of his saliva. Yeah, I know, sounds super gross.
What does bird’s nest drink taste like?
When cooked correctly, the bird’s nest drink should gain a gelatinous texture, with soft, slippery strands, and the taste should be a little sweet, just enough to mask any initial fishy smell from the bird’s nest. Temperature and timing is important: if overcooked, those strands will become gummy and break apart, and that’d be such a waste.
What is bird's nest made of?
Different birds make their nests using different materials. Some gather sticks, grass, and leaves, while others use tree branches, mud, stones, or even their own saliva. Many nests are made of any materials the bird can find.
What is edible bird's nest made of?
swiftletsEdible bird's nests are made from the saliva of swiftlets. These nests are considered a delicacy and have been consumed for thousands of years. They're sometimes referred to as the “caviar of the East.”
What is the benefit of drinking bird nest?
Numerous amino acids, proteins and other minerals found in bird's nest protects the body from falling sick, thus ensuring you enjoy your golden years of retirement. With regular consumption, you can notice an improvement in digestion, sleep and lung health which is often prescribed in traditional Chinese medicine.
Is it good to drink bird nest everyday?
For your information, bird's nest is safe to consume every day as it is rich in glycoprotein, collagen and amino acid, antioxidants, hormones, and various minerals. Long-term consumption of small amounts of bird's nest has shown to have the best effects.
How often should you drink bird nest?
Those who have just started eating bird's nests are advised to eat every day for a period of time (e.g. six months), after this you can reduce the frequency, such as eating it every two days, but must eat regularly.
Is Bird Nest good for diabetes?
Improves Your Overall Health The raw ingredients of the bird's nest contain lots of protein and carbohydrates. The natural goodness of this drink helps to improve blood circulation for people, and is highly beneficial for patients with diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure and COPD.
Who Cannot eat birds nest?
1. People who're an allergy to the protein: Bird's nest is rich in protein, if you are allergic to the protein, then you should not consume the bird's nest.
What is the best time to drink bird nest?
Bird's Nest is best consumed on an empty stomach. In TCM, Bird's Nest is classified as a tonic. Ideally, it should be consumed before meals to allow the body to better absorb its nutrients.
Is bird nest good for kidney?
Edible Bird Nest Protects the Kidney From Gentamicin Induced Acute Tubular Necrosis. Every year, there are about 13.3 million cases of acute kidney injury (AKI). Although AKI is a preventable and treatable disease, if left untreated, it has high risk of multiple organ failure and progression to end stage kidney disease ...
Does bird nest help lose weight?
In fact, bird's nest by itself may help improve metabolism and digestion, both of which help with weight loss. With the exception of vegan diets, your bird's nest drinks are safe with most other diet plans you might try - so you can continue `ordering your freshly-boiled bird's nest drinks` from us in peace.
Is bird nest good for Phlegm?
Bird's nest is known to get rid of phlegm and treat dry cough. It can also combat fatigue, increase appetite, improve digestion, and induce bowel movement. Its proteins and minerals also work as a growth and immunity supplement for children.
Does bird nest have collagen?
Bird's Nest is also rich in Collagen and Amino acids such as leucine, lysine, glycine, glutamine, tyrosine, arginine, cysteine, histidine, tryptophan, amino acids, etc., they describe the building blocks of proteins that is beneficial to human body.
What birds nest is used in birds nest soup?
the swiftletThe soup isn't made from any old nest. The soup calls for the nest of a bird called the swiftlet or cave swift. These birds produce special nests found not in trees but in caves throughout southern Asia, the south Pacific islands, and northeastern Australia.
How can you tell if a bird's nest is real?
Shape and Appearance. After soaking it in water for 30 minutes, a genuine bird's nest starts losing its shape, with the nest fibers easily recognizable (occasionally, the odd feather may be seen too). In a fake bird's nest, you will see bumpy surface arranged uniformly, and there will be a slight smell of medication.
Is swallow bird nest good for you?
Taking bird's nest in moderate amounts allows your body to take advantage of its nutrients and proteins, and this helps you recover from ailments while fortifying your immune system. There is evidence bird's nest provides relief for respiratory conditions like chronic cough and asthma.
Does bird's nest have nutritional value?
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.
Harvesting and Cleaning Process
Traditionally harvested in limestone caves by climbing up tall ladders... quite dangerous!
At Home Preparation and Consumption
Suggested best time to consume is on an empty stomach: either in the morning or right before bedtime.
Health Benefits
Little research has been performed on biological function of Bird's Nest.
Different Brands
Golden Nest Premium Bird Nest Drink (made in USA) - this is the brand available at my local Costco. Has a high Amazon rating, but negative reviews on Amazon are result of poor shipping conditions and/or delayed shipping.
An origin story steeped in myth and legend
For hundreds of years, Chinese communities across China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore have boiled and ingested these edible birds' nests particularly at old age, when ill or pregnant, or when seeking a bit of that lively facial glow.
Farming swiftlet nests
Chiam and his cofounder, Stuart Ho, learned about edible bird's nest production from Chiam's uncle, who operates swiftlet houses in Sitiawan, Malaysia.
A delicacy with a price tag
The peripatetic life of a swiftlet home is among the reasons why swiftlet nests are so expensive.
The appeal of edible bird's nest
Swiftlet nests' immune-boosting properties were once a product of Chinese myth. In recent years, swiftlet farmers and food scientists have been investing in research to prove the nests' nutritional benefits.
Controversy within the swiftlet-farming industry
Compared to some other traditional Chinese medicines such as rhino horn or shark's fin, the bird's nest is "relatively ethical," said Chiam, given that birds do not need to be killed when their nests are harvested.
