INTRODUCTION
BIRD NEST
Bird nest is built by small birds which known as
swiftlets. The nests are built from bird’s salivary secretion, which is
abundant, particularly during breeding season. Bird nests are often found
clinging to the ceilings of caves where baby swiftlets are raised there. When
the hatchlings are ready to fly off, the nests, found in many coastal caves of
South East Asia including Borneo, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam,
are then abandoned.
Edible bird nest was first discovered during Tang
Dynasty (A.D.
618-907) in China, it was initially
known as Swallow Nests. According to Chinese Medicine Book, swallow nest (now
known as bird nest) has the numerous health benefits and were imported into
China from across the southeast regions of Asian.
It was reported that Admiral Cheng Ho was the one
who brought the edible bird nest into Southeast Asia to the Chinese Emperor.
Since then, bird nest became a constant delicacy for the Chinese royal families
and has been known as the most precious natural nourishment and healthy
delicacy. Women especially were constantly taking the bird nests soup to maintain their
beauty and for healthy living.
Notably among several
prominent Chinese people who consume the bird nest soup due to its medicinal
values are literary heroine Lin Dai Yu, charming empress Dowager Tsu His, as
well as the well-known migrant Emperor Qian Long of the Ching Dynasty. Also,
Empress Wu Ze Tian, the only Chinese female empress was known for eating bird
nest soup.
However, during the
great reign of Tang Dynasty, bird nest can only be consumed by family of the
Emperor and officials who are working in His court due to the rare nature of
bird nest. It was considered as indication of wealthiness and power. After the era of Tang Dynasty, bird nest
consumption was open to the public and known as the fame of unique medical soup
spread.
Today, bird nests are also referred to as Caviar of the
East, and are consumed across Southeast Asia and other part of the world by
those who cherish its unique taste and medicinal value. Several contemporary
research studies have strengthened earlier claims that bird nests can cure
several ailments.
TYPES
OF BIRD NEST
Bird's nests are classified according to the
location where the nests are built, edibility, external features, colour,
quality and cleanliness and they can basically be classified into two main
categories:
1. Cave
Bird Nest
Cave bird nest refers to nests built by swiftlets on natural stonewalls or limestone caves. These bird nests are usually yellow or beige color as they absorbed many kind of minerals which result in solid shape. It contains more impurities (e.g. fine feathers etc.) as compared to house bird nest. It also takes longer time when soak into the water as it can expand 2-3 times more after soaking.
2. House
Bird Nest / Swiftlet House
Swiflet farming is about attracting swiflets to
inhabit in a man-built building which is refers as house bird nest or swiftlet
house. The swiftlet house owners use sound system to attract swiftlets to come
into the house and allow them to build nests. The swiftlets would start
breeding on the bird nest they built. When young swiftlets reaches maturity to
fly and live independently, they will leave the nest and ready to be harvested
by the swiftlet house owner. Swiftlet house production is usually higher in
quality with fewer feathers and lesser impurities as compared to cave bird
nest. The bird nest usually expand 5-7 times of its original size in the water
and it tastes smoother but it cannot be boil for longer hours. It can be served
after 30-45 minutes boiling; boiling in longer hours will result bird nest
dissolve and disappear in water.
BENEFITS OF BIRD NEST
Bird nest is best known as the most precious
natural nourishment and healthy product. Bird nest was used in ancient China as
a type of restorative and remedial food. According to the clinical research,
bird nest has a sweet and calm character. Bird nest contributes various medical
benefits such as lung, stomach and kidney neural systems.
Based on a scientific study on bird nest from
Chinese University of Hong Kong, it was concluded that the water-soluble
protein of bird nest contains Mitogenic Stimulation Factor and Epidemic
Growth Factor which able to:
- Enhance the growth of
cells
- Reinforce the immune
system
- Restore energy and stamina
- Boost heart functions
- Supply, distribute heat
energy throughout body
Bird nest is
absolutely safe to eat for anyone like babies, kids, teenagers, adult male or
female, young and old, and for pregnant women too.
Also, bird nest is strongly recommended for those
convalescing. The nutrients in the nests can speed up the recovery process and
makes healing faster. Since bird nest is a rich source of food and nutrition,
it is important to carefully examine all the nutrients that are found in bird
nest.