Essential Criteria For Selecting A Swallow Bird’s Nest

Shape and volume:

The best Swallow Bird’s Nests is in the shape of a boat or spoon. Swallow Bird’s Nest can be triangular in shape if they have been built in the corner of two adjacent walls. However for nutritional value the shape does not matter. Swallow Bird’s Nests that are broader in width rank higher. The real Swallow Bird’s Nest should be in a natural shape.

Color and Purity:

The best Swallow Bird’s Nest should be of natural colour, containing no mud and other impurities like moss. The colour of the white nest is an actual ivory. The yellow nest and the bloodyred nest are coloured straw and red, respectively. The variations and intensity in the colour are due to the difference in the mineral constituents of the food the swallow ate. The Swallow Bird’s Nests, regardless of their colour, swell when soaked in clear water. The colouration in the Swallow Bird’s Nest will fade and the nest threads look transparent after swelling. However, the water used for soaking should still remain transparent and colourless.

Essential Criteria For Selecting A Swallow Bird’s Nest

Density and Swelling Capacity:

Swallow Bird’s Nests that have finer and denser nest threads appear almost gapless. They are bigger and thicker in volume and should have a higher swelling capacity. The swelling capacity refers to the water holding ability of a Swallow Bird’s Nest. The higher the swelling capacity, the greater the Swallow Bird’s Nest distends after immersion in water. Swallow Bird’s Nests of different categories show different magnitudes of swelling capacity, i. e. the ratio between the weight of the Swallow Bird’s Nest before and after swelling can be different. The swelling capacity should be measured by weight instead of by volume.

Flavor and Dryness:

Swallow Bird’s Nest should be selected by smell. A real Swallow Bird’s Nest retains a little bit of a fishy smell of the swallow’s saliva. When cooked, it releases a light aroma resembling the aroma of an egg white. It is essential to select a dry Swallow Bird’s Nest. A Swallow Bird’s Nest that is sticky and soft is certainly not dry enough. A wet Swallow Bird’s Nest weighs heavier thus the price will be overcharged from the extra weight. A wet Swallow Bird’s Nest would not be convenient for storage as it would attract mould easily and has a low swelling capacity.

Price and Creditability:

Swallow Bird’s Nests should be purchased in person and selected by “looking”, “smelling” and “touching”. The price of the Swallow Bird’s Nest should be weighed against the flavor, size, thickness of the nest, fineness of the threads, dryness, and a good swelling capacity. It is not possible to buy a good quality Swallow Bird’s Nest at fair price if the goods have not been examined and the quality and category evaluated. The most trustful way to purchase a high quality Swallow Bird’s Nest is to buy from shops having a good reputation and guaranteed quality.