What is Bird Nest Soup? 21 Facts You Need to Know

One day, your friend took you to lunch at a Chinese restaurant. One of them ordered a bowl of bird nest soup. At first, you have no strange. However, you start to be surprised when you know that the price of a bowl of bird’s nest is so expensive. Then you begin to wonder, what is bird nest soup?

Bird’s nest soup is a soup made from an edible bird’s nest, in this case, a swallow bird. However, the swallow that produces this nest is different from the barn swallow you are used to seeing.

So, what bird is it? Does the nest really edible? Already curious about what bird is nest soup? Alright, let’s see the 21 facts about edible bird nest soup

1. Started Consumed by Chinese People since 400 Years Ago

Chinese people were the first to consume ‘s nest. History said they have started this habit 400 years ago. This tradition still continues today.

2. Expensive Food

Did you know that one pound of edible bird nest can reach 3,000 dollars? Naturally, obtaining an edible bird’s nest is a very difficult thing. In addition, pre-harvest bird nests are also very difficult to get.

3. They Call It’s “The Caviar of The East”

Because of the high price, many people call the edible bird nest the “Caviar of the East”. The right name for “groceries” which could buy 4 latest iPhones, right?

4. Derived from the Nest of The Swiftlet, Which is Widely Found in Asia

Although all birds build nests, not all bird nests are edible. The edible bird’s nest comes from the Swiftlet. This bird is often found in Southeast Asia and the Asia Pacific only.

5. Swiftlet’s Nest Producing Country

Because swiftlets do not live in all countries, only a few countries have this kind of bird. These countries are Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines.

6. Indonesia is the World’s Largest Exporter of Edible Bird Nests

Did you know, According to wikipedia Indonesia is the largest producer of swiftlet nests in the world. More than 75% of edible bird nests that you find in restaurants and supermarkets come from Indonesia. Making Indonesia the greatest bird nest supplier in the world.

7. Indonesia Supplies More than 2000 Tons of Edible Birds Nests Every Year

Every year, Indonesia exports more than 2000 tons of edible bird nests all over the world. This number is far from Malaysia in second place with 600 tons, and Thailand with 400 tons.

8. Previously Taken Directly from the Wild

To get a swiftlet nest, the ancients had to go to caves in the interior of the forest, or areas near the coast. After finding the cave with swiftlet in it, they need to climb up the roof wall to retrieve the nest.

9. Developed by Farming Method

Nowadays, only a few people left who take swiftlet’s nest directly from nature. In edible bird nest-producing countries, swiftlet’s nests have been developed by a farming method.

People in this country commonly build special multi-level buildings so that swiftlets can live and build their nests. These people are called farmers. At a certain time, the bird’s nest farmer will harvest the bird’s nest.

10. Farmers Need to Wait Up To 6 Months To Take Bird’s Nest

Although there is no need to go to the cave to look for bird nests nowadays, the process of getting them is still difficult. Because the waiting period for farmers to harvest nests is still quite long. It can be up to 6 months.

11. Made from a Swiftlet’s Saliva

Yup, you didn’t read it wrong! Swiftlets build nests using their saliva. This nest will be taken to be processed into an edible bird nest. That’s the reason why the bird’s nest in your friend’s soup bowl is different from the wild bird’s nest you often encounter.

12. Bird’s Nest Shape When Freshly Harvested

Are you curious, what does a swiftlet’s nest look like when it’s freshly harvested from the swiftlet’s house? Look at the image below and you will find out.

13. Cleaning Swallow’s Nests After Harvesting Is a Job That Requires High Accuracy

After seeing what birdnest looks like when it’s freshly harvested, you might be even more wondering what is bird nest soup. Will the newly harvested bird’s nest be immediately cooked into a bowl of soup?

Don’t worry, the freshly harvested birds will not be cooked directly into the soup. The swiftlet’s nest certainly needs to be cleaned from the feathers that are still attached. The work requires high precision so that the quality of the bird’s nest is not damaged.

14. Many Birdnest is Processed in Factory

In countries that provide the largest swallow’s nest, such as Indonesia, factories that process bird’s nests have started to appear. The processing, however, is to process the bird’s nest that still has feathers in it, into a clean bird’s nest so that it can be processed into soup.

This bird’s nest factory is not only modern but also has a high standard of cleanness. Resulting the edible bird nest they produce is safe for consumption

15. Has Various Shapes

In the market, edible bird nests are sold in various forms. Ranging from large in the form of a half bowl, to small like a pebble, measuring a few millimeters.

Start getting an idea about what is bird nest soup? Here is the confusing part.

16. The Bigger The Shape, The More Expensive It Is

Yup, you guess, it! The bigger and fuller the shape of the swallow’s nest, the more expensive it will be. For example, 1 pound of bird’s nest with the shape of a half bowl, will cost more than 1 pound of bird’s nest with the shape of gravel. Even though they both weigh 1 pound

17. Color Affects Price

In addition to the shape, the color of the swallow’s nest also affects their selling price. This is because not all bird nests obtained from farms have a white color. Sometimes they have a slightly yellowish tint or are partly white and partly yellow.

18. The whiter the Color, the Better

Once you know what the colors of edible bird nests are, you will start asking which bird’s nest is better?

The quality and price of a swallow’s nest are seen from how white the nest is. Generally, white bird nests have a higher price than yellow bird nests.

19. Contains Many Nutrients

If you think the high price of edible bird nests is just because of their rarity, you are not quite right. In fact, this swallow’s nest has many nutrients that are good for the health of the body.

Edible bird nest is rich in protein because it is formed by pure swallow’s saliva. In addition, swallows are also high in amino acids that can function as antioxidants in the body.

20. Brings Many Health Benefits to the Body

Bird’s nest soup is said to be good for skin health and slows aging because it contains high levels of amino acids that act as antioxidants. In addition, the natural protein content in a bird’s nest is also good for brain health and memory.

21. Immunity Enhancer during Chemotherapy

Study from Drug Design, Development and Therapy Journal published in 2016 stated that consuming swallow’s nest can increase the body’s resistance in chemotherapy patients. In this study, patients who regularly consumed bird’s nest soup had higher immunity. In addition, their intestinal resistance also increases thanks to the consumption of bird’s nest soup.

Here are 21 surprising facts about bird’s nest soup. Are you interested in trying it? Or do you have other interesting facts about what is bird nest soup? Share in the comments column below!