What is Edible Blood Birds Nest

How are Blood Birds Nest’s Made?

These nests are made from swiftlets / swallow birds utilizing saliva that have been solidified and prepared so they’re edible. These Blood Birds Nests are treasured in Chinese cuisine as they are rare, delicious and have high nutritional content. These Blood Birds Nests have different grading / types, and this is determined by the size and the cleanliness of the Blood Birds Nest.
Colors vary, with white being one of the most coveted as it is softer than the other colors and provides many health benefits including promoting smooth skin. While these nests are just becoming popular in the West, they have been part of Chinese culture and cuisine for over four centuries, often as Blood Birds Nest.

What is Edible Blood Birds Nest

Blood Birds Nest and Other Dishes

While these nests can be used in different ways, they are best known as Blood Birds Nest. As the nest dissipates in water, they become gelatinous and then used as an ingredient in soup.
In Chinese cuisine it is called the sweet soup or savoury. There are many ways to prepare the dish, and as per the Suiyuan shidan, the gastronomy guide of the Qing Dynasty, the nest should not be prepared with anything oily or other powerful ingredients as it is delicate. The dish is also prepared in generous quantities in order to best appreciate its taste.
Aside from its exquisite taste, Blood Birds Nests can also be turned into ingredients in other foods and dishes. This nest for instance, can be used for the preparation of Blood Birds Nest boiled rice, Blood Birds Nest congee and prepared with rice. These nests can also be used as ingredients for desserts such as Blood Birds Nest jelly. Blood Birds Nest jelly is made when the nest is placed in a ceramic jar with a bit of water and salt or sugar, after which it is steamed.

Harvesting of the Nests

Various types of Blood Birds Nests can be harvested, with the most in demand being the Aerodramus maximus (black nest swiftlet) and the Aerodramus fuciphagus (white nest swiftlet). Both white and red nests are renowned throughout China and the rest of the world not just because of their taste but a lot of people say they have benefited health wise.
The majority of these nests are made when the breeding season arrives. These nests are created by the male swiftlet and have the appearance of a light cup embedded to a wall. These nests are made from various salivary cement strands, and it is this mixture that provides the nest with plenty of magnesium, potassium, iron and calcium.
Back in the days these nests were harvested directly in the caves, in particular the caves at Niah and those in Gomantong in Borneo. Because of the high demand for these nests beginning in the 1990s, special structures have been used in their stead. To make harvesting easier, these nests are situated close to the sea as that is where birds are most likely to be found.

Supply and Demand

The United States and Hong Kong are among the biggest consumers of Blood Birds Nests, and Blood Birds Nests are very much in demand and can fetch a high price. Blood Birds Nests are weighed in kilograms, with red nests usually costing more than the white ones because they are rarer.
White colored nests are dyed red by many manufacturers, but experts have a way of determining if the nests are genuine red. Real red cave nests are hard to find, with most located in limestone caves in an island off Thailand. Premium Nest only supply the natural red Blood Birds Nest which is harvested from the high-rise buildings / houses.
Due to the high demand for white Blood Birds Nests, counterfeiters have tried to take advantage of the situation. To combat this threat, authorities in various countries have started using RFID technology, using microchips on the nests with details about transport, packaging, harvesting and so on.
The huge demand for Blood Birds Nests has led to a thriving industry in particular the Indonesian province of North Sumatra. The many bird’s nets harvested and prepared there are exported to countries around the world including Hong Kong and the United States. However, the majority of consumers are still in China.
The best Blood Birds Nests are handled and processed in special facilities to ensure consistency of quality, with effects analysis and failure mode among the techniques used to verify the authenticity of an Blood Birds Nest.
There was a time when this delicacy was reserved for emperors and royalty, but now it is available for everyone. Demand for these nests is greater than ever, to the point that it makes up 0.5% of the GDP of Indonesia. Globally it is now a $5 billion industry.

Blood Birds Nest Drink - Is it really healthy?

Also known as Blood Birds Nest Drink, I recently got some from family, who bought it from Costco. It's by Golden Nest and claims to have 100% genuine swallow Blood Birds Nest. I tried a pre-chilled bottle and it tasted fine with some soft chunks of what I assumed to be the actual Blood Birds Nest. Regarding the drink itself, I felt it was a bit sweet, and there is 14 grams of sugar.

I've heard a lot about Blood Birds Nest drinks, especially the supposed health benefits. But I've never really done my own research, so here's everything that I've read and learned so far:

What is it?

• It's the saliva of the nest of the swiflets.
• 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 Blood Birds Nest are available.
• Harvested Blood Birds Nest can be cooked into a soup or drink.
Harvesting and Cleaning Process:
• Traditionally harvested in limestone caves by climbing up tall ladders... quite dangerous!
• Cleaned by removing twigs and feathers that are also part of the Blood Birds Nest.
• The popularity has created "farms" of concrete builds designed to breed and harvest Blood Birds Nest.
• Popularity has attracted counterfeits: even China has banned some imports of Blood Birds Nest.
• Cleaning fresh Blood Birds Nest is best done with cold water, as opposed chemicals that deplete nutritional value.
• Not considered (by me) to be unethical to swallow because it's harvested after the bird's leave and abandon the nest.

Pricing:

• Blood Birds Nest can cost up to $4,500/lb.
• Costco Sells Blood Birds Nest Drink: 8 x 8oz bottles for $20.
• Different grades of Blood Birds Nest can fetch different prices.

Reasons for Blood Birds Nest

• Health benefit reasons, discussed in more details below.
• A sign of luxury, similar to shark fin soup.
• At a restaurant during a business meeting, Blood Birds Nest is ordered a sign of good faith.

At Home Preparation and Consumption:

• Suggested best time to consume is on an empty stomach: either in the morning or right before bedtime.
• Experts recommend 3 grams for those between 1 to 12 years. 5-10 grams for everyone else.
• Don't cook over 100C, which would destroy nutritional value.
• Soup should be prepared in a double boiler for 20 minutes max.
• Can be prepared with rock sugar, ginseng, red dried dates, dried longans, fresh ginger, egg white, pandan leaves.
• Soak dried Blood Birds Nest overnight in cold water to soften and expand.
Health Benefits:
• Little research has been performed on biological function of Blood Birds Nest.
• Saliva has high levels of calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium.
• High in Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), beneficial for skin.
• Has all the essential amino acids
• Used in traditional Chinese medicine
• Believed to have anti-aging (remove wrinkles) and anti-cancer properties
• Believed to improve concentration and raise libido.
• Good for Pregnant Women: helps with stretch marks due to collagen, can help reduce risk of pre-eclampsia.

Risks:

• Not recommended for pregnant women during the first trimester.
• Some people have negative reactions: anaphylaxic.
• Try a small amount first, to test for allergies!