Different types of Swallow Bird’s Nest

Cave Nest Versus House Nest

It is a myth that “Blood Nest” gets its red colour from the presence of blood in the bird’s saliva.Swallow Bird’s Nest secreted by the bird is naturally translucent white in colour. In the case of Cave Nest where the Swallow Bird’s Nest is harvested from natural cave, the Swallow Bird’s Nest is exposed to relatively high humidity and more impurities compared to House Nest. Very often, we found the Cave Nest reddish in colour because oxidation had occurred, with the formation of iron oxide (red colour) in the Cave Nest. Based on some laboratory reports, it was found that “Blood” Nest contained higher level of nitrite compared to House Nest. It is obvious that the House Nest in a controlled environment where you can find workers clearing the Swallow Bird’s Nest is much cleaner versus the Cave Nest which is exposed in the wild environment.

Different types of Swallow Bird’s Nest

Natural Swallow Bird’s Nest Versus Chemically Treated Swallow Bird’s Nest

Natural Swallow Bird’s Nest (Translucent yellowish white Swallow Bird’s Nest) is harvested from purpose-built swiftlet house. Cleaned manually without any use of harmful chemical, natural beautiful shape of natural Swallow Bird’s Nest retained. A well-maintained swiftlet house which is frequently clean of bird waste is key to producing such Swallow Bird’s Nest with low level of contamination from nitrogenous wastes. The Natural Swallow Bird’s Nest usually expand many times bigger after soaking in water. Whereas chemically treated Swallow Bird’s Nest is processed using cleaning agent (such as bleaching agent) in mass production. A fast way to clean the large quantity of Swallow Bird’s Nest which is usually contaminated with much impurities like;- soil, mud and other substances which are not edible.

Swallow Bird’s Nest Biscuit

Swallow Bird’s Nest Biscuit is considered low quality (“unwanted”) Swallow Bird’s Nest which man makes into the shape of a biscuit. These “biscuits” are put together from bits and pieces of broken Swallow Bird’s Nest, held together in a mould and left to dry. It does not usually expand much after soaking in water and the nest most likely falls apart after soaking in water for an hour.