What is Bird´s Nest?

 

Bird´s Nest comes from the saliva of swallows. Basically they are made of the saliva of Apodidae swiftlet and the other swiftlet under the same type. In brief, there are around 90 types of swallows and not all swallow saliva is edible. Those swallows that often bring branches, straw and soil to build nests which are definitely not edible. Edible nests are made of saliva of swiftlet, Feather Prime swiflet or Grass swiflet.

 

Bird´s nests are divided into the two following major categories:

 

(1) House Nest

​Swallow builds nest inside a house called swiftlet. House roof is made of wood. The internal setting of the house imitates the temperature, luminosity and humidity of natural caves. Average temperature is 28°C to 30°C and humidity lies between 89% and 90%, environment is humid and dark. Swallows leave the swiftler house in the morning to look for food outside until evening. Since environment is ideal, there is little impurities and feathers in the bird´s nest and it is cleaner with more complete shape like a boat or a spoon. According to swiftlets´ color they can be divided into white, yellow and red (blood). White nests are softer and smoother while golden nests and red (blood) nests are crispier in texture.

 

(2) Cave Nest:

Swallows build their nests on mountain caves, rock caves and cliffs. Affected by natural climate and environment, the texture tends to be stiffer and harder, with a darker color and less appealing appearance. There are more impurities in cave nest and it takes longer time to soak, giving a crispier texture.

 

Functions:

"Ben Cao Bei Yao (Complete Essentials of the Materia Medica)" composed by Wang Ang in 1694 during the Qing Dynasty and "Ben Jing Feng Yuan (Origin of Materia Medica)" composed by Zhang Lu in 1695 have shown that centuries ago, Chinese people have already approved the effect of bird nests and apply them in disease treatment. From then on, from 1757 to 1871, a number of scholars and experts have explained in details in "New Compilation of Materia Medica", "Ben Cao Qiu Zhen (The truth of Materia Medica)" and "Notes on Compendium of Materia Medica" the benefits of bird´s nest, proving that it is a previous food with treatment effect. Among them, as in "Notes on Compendium of Materia Medica", bird´s nest has "sweet taste and is mild and calm in nature, greatly boosts internal fluids and lungs, decreases phlegm and stops coughs, nourishes as well as detoxifies. Sacred medicine for treatment of tiredness and weakness".