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.

Country of Origin

​Origins of bird´s nests are spread in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia etc. Different bird´s nests have different textures.

House nest is the most common variety in Indonesia with less impurities and cleaner. Texture is smoother and softer. Indonesia is the origin of highest production volume and supplies about 80% of bird´s nest in Hong Kong.Thai bird´s nests are thicker, higher density and firmer in texture. It takes more time in soaking and stewing. Since production volume is small, the prices are higher.More Feather Prime swiflet nest products, usually swiftlet processed into cakes and prices are low. Since instant food is usually produced with bird´s nest cakes, there is less and less dry bird´s nest cakes sold on the market and prices are thus increasingQuality is high with stronger taste and aroma after stewed as compared to others, but supply is very limited.

Functions

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"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".