Swallow Bird Nest / Yàn wō / 燕窝

Swallow Bird Nest is produced by Swallow Bird Nests (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 sub lingual glands located beneath the tongue of the Swallow Bird Nest.

Swallow Bird Nest are among the most expensive animal products consumed by humans. The nests have been used in Chinese cooking for over 400 years, most often as Swallow Bird Nest

Benefits of consuming Swallow Bird Nest

1. Amino Acids - Help to repair body cells and generate new cells
2. Antioxidant - Helps to eradicate free radicals in the body. Prevent or slow the oxidation damage to our body. Health problems such as heart disease, muscular degeneration, diabetes, cancer, etc. are all contributed by oxidation damage. Antioxidants may also boast our immune defense and therefore lower the risk of cancer and infection.
3. EGF(epidermal growth factor) - Anti aging effect, making regular Swallow Bird Nest consumers young and radiant looking
4. Source of protein

Type of Swallow Bird Nest - Unprocess

Saliva Nest
Around 90% edible
Saliva Nest (Aerodramus fuciphagus) provides the best nourishing effect to human bodies and has higher nutritional value than other categories Swallow Bird Nest. It produces aroma of eff white after cooking. Texture is smooth and soft.
Feather Prime Swallow Bird Nest
Around 50% edible
Effect is less prominent compared to saliva nest. Produces a crispier texture after stewing.
Grass Swallow Bird Nest
Around 10% edible
Cheaper and thus welcomed by beginners. Textures is soft and smooth. Since the nests are built by saliva and grass, the nests contain little fiber of fresh grass.

Swallow Bird Nest / Yàn wō / 燕窝

Swallow Bird Nest different in colour

The colour of Swallow Bird Nest influenced by the environment, food and climate, hence swallows produce nests in different colors.

Best time to consume Swallow Bird Nest

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

House Swallow Bird Nest Vs Cave Swallow Bird Nest

The harvesters often face considerable danger when harvesting these Swallow Bird Nest. Since cave Swallow Bird Nest are formed by free, naturally-living Swallow Bird Nests, some people consider them to be more valuable than Swallow Bird Nests found in houses. Thus, cave Swallow Bird Nest often fetch a higher price as compared to house Swallow Bird Nest.
However, unknown to many consumers in the market, cave Swallow Bird Nest generally contain more foreign materials and feathers than house nests. Besides, cave Swallow Bird Nest are exposed to the risk of heavy metals contamination from external environmental factors. So, consume cave Swallow Bird Nest at your own risk!

Red Swallow Bird Nest

It is believed that the red-coloured “blood Swallow Bird Nest” is specially prized because they are formed by Swallow Bird Nests that vomit their blood to build the nest.
There is also another belief that the “blood Swallow Bird Nest” was formed by a different species of Swallow Bird Nest which consumes different kinds of water and food.
Contrary to these beliefs, Swallow Bird Nests do not vomit blood; neither do they consume different kinds of water and food. In general, Swallow Bird 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 Swallow Bird Nest” may be harmful rather than beneficial to human beings.
Some dishonest Swallow Bird Nest traders even dyed their Swallow Bird Nest red in order to fetch a higher price. So, play it safe – choose only pure Swallow Bird Nest!

Identify fake Swallow Bird Nest

Beware that you might end up buying fake Swallow Bird Nest. Not only you didn't the nutritious of real Swallow Bird Nest, it may harm your body. Below are some simple guidance for you to identify real Swallow Bird Nest.
Make sure it is highly in translucent!

Swallow Bird Nest Mythbuster Edition: The Red Nest

In previous post we have explain about the colors of the Swallow Bird Nest. The colors are white, yellow, and red. The color of the Swallow Bird Nest can be different depending on the location of where they are located or cultivated.

Myth 1: Natural Red Swallow Bird Nest Simply Does Not Exist

Recently many believe that all red Swallow Bird Nest in the market is fake and artificial. While I have to admit that there are some ill practice that convert white nest into red nest by using coloring (red dye), we should not be too fast to jump into conclusion that red nest does not exist. There is no doubt the red nests exist. In fact the existence is the exact reason why people attempt to make the fake ones in the first place. A lot of cave nest are usually red.

Myth 2: the Red Color of the Nest Comes from Bird’s Blood

One of the myths that commonly believed by society suggest that red Swallow Bird Nest was made by sick or dying swift, that cough its blood while building the nest. Because of this misconception the name red Swallow Bird Nest is interchangeable with “Blood nest”. Blood nest rarity and its exotic story have positioned the product as most premium and most expensive category. Nevertheless the factual story is slightly different. All nest is originally white and will stay white without any biological trigger. White nest will gradually turns into red color because of the unique climate condition and natural organic activities within the house of the cave. Moreover such optimum condition is rarely obtained, a main reason why natural red Swallow Bird Nest is seldom.

Myth 3: The Red Color Comes From Iron and Rust

As discussed above, red color is a product of organic process and not chemical process such as rusting iron or other metal found in the cave/house. This is simply not true. But if such metal contamination process occurs and influence the nest color, it is not the original red color it should have. I am personally doubtful of the safety as well of this product.
A lot of people believe that red nest have higher nutritional content. While there is no extensive study that have comprehensive conclusion about this, we also cannot dismiss it as a myth. Testimonies about red Swallow Bird Nest usually include feeling invigorated, better blood circulation/flow, etc.