Because real birds nests can be expensive, restaurants often substitute noodles (in the shape of a nest) to make Bird's Nest Soup. Eu Yan Sang, a consumer healthcare company that has been dedicated to making innovations to traditional Chinese medicine for over 100 years, offers a line of Bird's Nest products made with delicious additions like rock sugar and wild ginseng that will soothe your ailments while keeping your tastebuds happy. Health benefits and taste? What's not to like?
Yanwo, or “bird’s nest”, is sometimes referred to as the “Caviar of the East.” According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), edible bird’s nest is known to have the ability to influence the lungs, stomach, and kidneys, and improves both appetite and complexion. Bird’s nest is commonly used to aid recuperation from debilitating illnesses in Asia, even today because of the easily digestible glycoprotein and nutrients.
Edible bird’s nests are among the most expensive Chinese delicacy or tonics consumed by humans. High quality raw pieces from Sabah or Vietnam may retail at well over US$2,000 per pound. For centuries, Chinese women have been known to take bird’s nest to enhance their beauty resulting in the disappearance of fine lines and better skin complexion. Bird’s nest, perhaps more than diamonds, is a woman’s best friend in Asia.
Edible bird’s nests are the nests built exclusively by small birds known as swiflets, which belong to the family of the common swallow. Only the nests from three species of these swiflets are edible. These nests are built from the secretion from the birds, which feed on insects rich in protein, minerals, calcium and other nutrients. They are often found clung to ceilings of caves as high as 70 meters. Both parents construct the nest together for raising the young, and when the hatchlings are ready to fly off, the nest will then be abandoned. These birds are found in many parts of South East Asia, like in Sawarak, West Malaysia, Indonesia, Sabah, Thailand and Vietnam.
Edible bird’s nest has long been prized as a highly nutritious health maintenance delicacy and therapeutic dietary supplement for centuries. With its high glycoprotein content and neutral energetic property – which means it is neither warm nor cool – in the concept of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) – bird’s nest is commonly consumed for boosting the immune system, strengthening respiratory functions, nourishing the internal organs and preventing overheating of the body.
Because bird’s nest can be prepared in many ways, in soup or dessert, with rock sugar or infused with other herbs, many people enjoy bird’s nest cuisine particularly during banquets and celebratory occasions. When taken regularly, bird’s nest is believed to improve one’s overall physical health and mental dexterity.
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| Dry bird's nest |
Tools for harvesting and processing bird's nest |
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Traditionally, raw bird’s nests are available in dried cup shape pieces, or broken strands which are less expensive. Preparation starts with cleaning (can be extremely tedious for the pieces that come with some impurities). It is recommended that you soak the raw nests in water for at least a day. It will expand with moisture, and impurities like feathers will float to the surface. To remove the tiny pieces of feathers, tweezers or forceps are often used. Then the nests are rinsed gently over and over until the nest pieces are completely clean.
After the cleaning process, the cooking is relatively simple. Many people love bird’s nest in desserts. The simple way is just add rock sugar, and some also put pitted dried red dates, lotus seeds or even white fungus. Double boiling is preferred. Some also add coconut milk or other fruits like papaya, mango or pear pieces.
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| Pureed partridge with bird's nest soup |
Bird's nest in a papaya |
Packaged raw bird's nest |
Today, bird’s nest is bottled for convenient consumption. It is important to purchase reliable brands, to ensure the bird’s nest is of high quality. For the modern consumer, bottled bird’s nest from reputable brands is not only making it easy with the ready-to-consume form, but also assuring that the contents are made with real, high quality edible nests.
Contents courtesy of Eu Yan Sang International www.euyansang.com and Lee Jok Keng.
Photos courtesy of Eu Yan Sang International and Wing Hop Fung, San Gabriel, California www.winghopfung.com |
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