Healing Powers of Swallow Bird’s Nest Remain Mysterious

At as much as $4,500 per pound, Swallow Bird’s Nest are among the most expensive foods on the planet.

Made from the saliva of cave-dwelling birds called Swallow Bird’s Nest, the nests are dangerous to harvest, laborious to prepare and have, according to traditional Chinese medicine, a long list of health benefits.

Traditionally consumed in soup, Swallow Bird’s Nest are now being turned into food and drink additives as well as put into cosmetics, say two Chinese researchers who have assessed just what is known about the nutritional and medicinal properties of this expensive, and to Westerners, strange-sounding health food.

Science cannot yet explain the healing powers attributed to the soup, they conclude. Swallow Bird’s Nest "bioactivities and medicinal value are still open to question as there (is) not much scientific research on the medicinal properties," Fucui Ma and Daicheng Liu of Shandong Normal University in China write in a review article to be published in the October issue of the journal Food Research International. .

Swallow Bird’s Nest live in limestone caves around the Indian Ocean, in South and South East Asia, North Australia and the Pacific Islands. Males primarily build the nests, attaching them to the vertical walls of the caves. Removing them can be dangerous and painstaking work, and, depending on the type of nest, it can take one person eight hours to clean 10 nests, the researchers write.

Healing Powers of Swallow Bird’s Nest Remain Mysterious

For possibly 1,200 years, the Chinese have prepared and eaten the nests as a soup. The nests are considered to have a high nutritional and medicinal value, believed to have everything from anti-aging and anti-cancer properties to the ability to improve concentration and raise libido.

Protein is the most abundant constituent of the nests, which contain all of the essential amino acids, the building blocks out of which proteins are made. They also contain six hormones, including testosterone and estradiol, the researchers write.

The nests also contain carbohydrates, ash and a small quantity of lipids (naturally occurring molecules that include fats). Previous research has indicated that the nests contain substances that can stimulate cell division and growth, enhance tissue growth and regeneration, and that it can inhibit influenza infections.

But not everyone reacts well to them. Swallow Bird’s Nest are known to cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction.

Little research has been carried out on their biological function so far, and more is needed to better understand the qualities attributed to them, they conclude.

How to prepare Swallow Bird’s Nest

A bowl of Swallow Bird’s Nest is a prized Chinese delicacy. Swallow Bird’s Nests are expensive due to the difficulty in harvesting and the many benefits it brings. Swallow Bird’s Nest does wonders for the skin, throat and lungs, as well as boosting overall health and well-being.

Lots of Asian celebrities consume this daily to look beautiful! When cooked, the Swallow Bird’s Nest takes on a gelatin texture, making it a lovely tong shui (“sweet soup”; Chinese dessert). The highly recommended way to enjoy Swallow Bird’s Nest, is just with water and rock sugar. Check out the recipe below to make that homely bowl of double-boiled Swallow Bird’s Nest.

Information:

Serves: 1
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

1 piece  Swallow Bird’s Nest
1 bowl of water
A handful of rock sugar to taste
3 pieces red dates (optional)
2 pieces dried longan (optional)
5 pieces wolfberries (optional)
3 pieces American Ginseng Slices (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Soak Swallow Bird’s Nest in a bowl of water overnight (8-10 hours) until expanded and softened.
 Swallow Bird’s Nest Soak Preparation
Pluck out any feathers or debris using kitchen tweezers. Rinse and drain. To prevent wastage, run soaking water through a fine sieve to catch the small bits of Swallow Bird’s Nest.

Add soaked Swallow Bird’s Nest, 1 rice bowl of water, and any another optional ingredients in a small bowl and cover with lid.

Place small bowl inside a larger pot and make sure the water in the larger pot starts to boil. Once it starts boiling, close the lid for the small bowl and let it boil for 15 minutes. When the Swallow Bird’s Nest is cooked to desired texture, stir in rock sugar to taste and cover for about 5 minutes to allow the sugar to dissolve fully. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

TIPS

1. Rather than weighing the Swallow Bird’s Nest, go by pieces per person. For one person, use 1 piece of  Swallow Bird’s Nest. This equates to about 8-10 grams per person. We use 1 rice bowl of water per person.
2. Although red dates are a common addition in Swallow Bird’s Nest, we wouldn't recommend using it. According to our own experience, the cheap red dates will act like a sponge which absorb the goodness of the Swallow Bird’s Nest (though it’s not so bad if you eat the red dates).
3. We highly recommend to enjoy Swallow Bird’s Nest in the purest way – just Swallow Bird’s Nest, water and rock sugar. You may also add American ginseng slices. If you find ginseng bitter or intend to consume at night (it improves alertness/提神), omit it.
4. Don’t fuss over prepping the Swallow Bird’s Nest, because our Swallow Bird’s Nest usually very clean. Simply soak the Swallow Bird’s Nest pieces in water overnight until fully expanded and softened, but not so long that the Swallow Bird’s Nest disintegrates into small bits. If there are any impurities such as debris and feathers (which is very normal, as it proves that it is 100% authentic Swallow Bird’s Nest), pluck them out using a kitchen tweezer, drain, and they are ready for cooking.
5. Avoid boiling Swallow Bird’s Nest for too long. Boiling them for too long will remove the solid chunks in the Swallow Bird’s Nest, and cause it to become very watery. It will also remove all the proteins and good nutrients inside the Swallow Bird’s Nest. The older folks especially dislike it when the stewed Swallow Bird’s Nest do not have solid chunks after cooking (i.e. very watery). We highly recommend boiling them for 15 minutes max.
6. For best results, use the traditional way of double-boiling instead of an electronic double-boiler slow cooker. However, an electronic slow cooker is an alternative, subjected to personal preference.
7. It is said that Swallow Bird’s Nest is best consumed at room temperature, or chilled, on an empty stomach (such as just before bed, or when you wake up in the morning). For maximum absorption, do not eat “heaty” snacks or medication a few hours before and after drinking Swallow Bird’s Nest.