Traditional Chinese Delicacy - Bird’s Nest

“Bird’s Nest” or better known as “edible Bird’s Nest” in the West, is basically salivary secretion of the male sea swiftlets. These swiftlets are known as Collocallia Fuciphagus (Collocallia species) which consume marine organisms such as small fishes, seaweed etc. The sticky secretion is regurgitated to form the nest.

Among the 90 species if swiftlets found in Southeast Asia, only 3 are found to be of efficacy value, namely; Aerodramus Germania, Aerodramus Fuciphagus and Aerodramus Maximus. They have very short bills, wide mouth, small and weak feet and long crescent shaped wings. They are relatively small in size. They never perch or rest except when they are sleeping, building their nests or feeding their young. The nest is made of glutinous strands of starched like saliva produced by a pair of large salivary glands under their tongue.

These species build their new homes in the caves of Southeast Asian region in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam, in the winter months.

The Aerodramus Germania species, found only in Vietnam produces superior quality bird’s nest . However, its production is limited as it produces a mere 1% of the total world production. It is also the most expensive of the bird’s nest.

The Aerodramus Fuciphagus species commonly found in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand is ranked second. The bird’s nest it produces is good because of the lesser impurity found in the species.

The Aerodramus Maximus produces the poorest quality as its nest contains more feathers and other impurities. Thus, the price is much lower compared to that mentioned earlier.

The existence of House Bird’s Nest is primarily due to the high-risk harvesting job which the younger generation is not willing to take up. That left suppliers with little choice but to induce the birds into the house to build their nest, thus, the name “ House Bird’s Nest”.

However, House Bird’s Nest isn’t as tangy, tasty or smooth in texture due to the lack of minerals and nutrition from the limestone in the caves. Thus, the Cave Bird’s Nest produces a more tasty texture.

With advancing technology, it is not easy differentiating between the genuine and fake bird’s nest. Generally, unethical businessmen use substitute such as seaweed, pig skin or white fungus, to cover the surface, making it difficult to identify.

Bird’s nest produces some fishy protein aroma as it contains very high water-soluble glyco-protein when cooked. If the aroma exist in raw form, chances are certain chemical or aromatic substance has been added.

Finally, we strongly recommend customers to buy the products from reliable sources.

Efficacy of Bird’s Nest

• Beauty care and improve skin complexion
• “Epidermal growth factor” (EGF) - responsible for skin and tissue repair
• Enhance body immune system through cell division caused by the water-soluble glyco-protein
• Heal illness connected to respiratory system such as chronic cough, ashma or throat infection.
• Prevents cancer and aid in treatment of cancer patients
• Improve heart funchtions and to reduce blood pressure
• Develop regeneration and growth of cells
• Reduce fatigue
• Strengthen body’s self-regulating actions and resistance to disease
• Superior food supplement for pregnant ladies and those on confinement