What Season Is Best for Eating Bird's Nest, How to Tell Real from Fake by Variety, and Which Month It Is Harvested
Bird's nest, also known as yancai, yangen, or yanshucai, when eaten over the long term, can not only moisturize the skin, enhance skin elasticity, reduce skin wrinkles and prevent skin aging; it can also help eliminate fatigue, relieve mental stress, replenish physical strength, and strengthen the brain and body. So what season is best for eating bird's nest? How do you tell real from fake? In which months is it generally harvested?
Bird's nest refers to the nest built from the saliva secreted by some swifts of the family Apodidae, order Apodiformes, and several species of swiftlets of the genus Aerodramus, mixed with other substances. Bird's nest can be divided by where the nest is built into two types: “house nest” and “cave nest.” Cave nests differ in color due to the influence of minerals, and are divided into white nest, yellow nest, and red nest, while house nests have only one color, ivory white. The so-called “blood nest” on the market is made from artificially farmed house nests through the “bird droppings fumigation method.” Bird's nest is one of the traditional precious foods that China has been eating since the Ming Dynasty.
What season is best for eating bird's nest?
First of all, it should be determined according to our own situation. When the autumn air is crisp and clear, it is also the driest time of the weather; eating bird's nest at this time is just right for a bit of moisturizing. Generally speaking, as far as bird's nest is concerned, it can be eaten at any time and in any season, and it also needs to be eaten consistently over the long term.
How is bird's nest formed?
Bird's nest, as the name suggests, is the nest of a bird. However, it is not the nest of an ordinary bird, but the nest of a special kind of bird -- the swiftlet.
Swiftlets belong to the class Aves, family Apodidae. They are migratory birds, flying from places such as Siberia to natural caves along tropical coasts from December to March of the following year to reproduce. Swiftlets are somewhat smaller than the swallows we usually see, with back feathers in grayish brown with a golden sheen, wings that are pointed and long, and four toes all growing forward.
This bird has very well-developed mucous glands in its throat, and the saliva it secretes can condense into a solid in the air, which is the main material for them to build their nests. Swiftlets lay eggs every year in March and April. Before laying eggs, they fly each day over the sea and at high altitude, sometimes as high as several thousand meters, piercing clouds and mist, sipping rain and dew, and feeding on insects, seaweed, silverfish, and other things.
After digestion, they go into steep, cool, high-altitude cliff crevices and deep caves to spit saliva and build nests. It takes about more than 20 days to build one. The nest is half-moon shaped, resembling a human ear, 6-7 cm in diameter, with a thick base and thin outer wall, weighing about 10-15 grams.
In which months is bird's nest harvested
The harvesting season for bird's nest is generally from February to October each year.
Bird's nest harvested from February to April: because there is more rain, it is suitable for insect reproduction, the swiftlets have ample food and secrete more saliva, so the nest cups are complete, glossy, and have few feathers. We often call this “first-period nest.”
Bird's nest harvested from May to October is called "second-period nest" and “third-period nest.” This is the swiftlets' molting period, so the nests built are relatively loose, the cup shape is not as good as first-period nest cups, and there are more down and impurities.
Types of bird's nest
Guan yan / white nest: The nest built by older swiftlets is formed entirely by the gradual condensation of large amounts of mucus secreted from their throats. It is pure in texture. This kind of bird's nest is the best in quality and is a top-grade bird's nest. In the era of feudal imperial dynasties, it was often selected as tribute, hence the name “guan yan” (official nest), that is, “white nest.”
Feathered nest: The nest made by young swiftlets. Because they lack nesting experience, the nests they build are relatively rough and contain more impurities and feathers. The bird's nest raw material harvested at this time is called “feathered nest.”
Blood nest / red nest: There is another kind of bird's nest that is permeated by the red liquid seeping from the attached red rock wall, and the part of the nest close to the rock wall gradually turns red. It is also called “blood nest” or “red nest.” It contains a number of minerals, is nutritious, and has very low output, and is regarded as a treasure among bird's nests.
How to stew bird's nest
1. Method:
1. Soak the bird's nest thoroughly in clean water, changing the water 1-2 times during the process, and after soaking, remove and wash away impurities and fine feathers.
2. Put the soaked bird's nest into a stewing cup, add an appropriate amount of boiling hot water, cover it, then place the stewing cup into a pot, pour in boiling hot water, with the water level reaching half the height of the stewing cup, then stew over low heat for 30 minutes.
3. After the bird's nest is stewed and cooled, it can be sealed with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator, where it can be stored for one week.
Making rock sugar syrup: Put rock sugar into a pot, add an appropriate amount of boiling hot water, stir from time to time, simmer over low heat until the rock sugar is completely dissolved, and after cooling, pour it into a bottle, tightly close the lid, and refrigerate.
2. How to eat:
When eating, add rock sugar syrup to the stewed bird's nest according to personal taste. Those who usually feel symptoms of dryness and heat are more suited to eating it cold. Those who usually feel symptoms of cold and coolness are suited to eating it hot. To match the amount of active protein molecules the body can absorb, eating bird's nest requires persistence. Nutritionists recommend: eat one to two bowls per week. Eat one to two tablespoons per day. Eat on an empty stomach.
3. Effects:
"Ben Cao Zai Xin" says that bird's nest can "greatly tonify vital energy." The nutrients it contains are easily absorbed by the human body, can promote metabolism, and enhance the body's functions.
As a tonic, bird's nest ranks first among ginseng, shark fin, and abalone, and is also the very best choice among the world's precious health products, so bird's nest is the most ideal choice among all tonics.
4. Tips:
Never cook bird's nest directly in a pot, or it will dissolve into nothing. Note that each time you take bird's nest and rock sugar syrup, you must use a clean spoon. If you want to eat it hot, first stew the bird's nest hot, then add the rock sugar. Do not heat it in a microwave, so as not to destroy the nutrients.
Effects and functions of bird's nest
1000 grams of dried bird's nest contains: 499 grams of protein, 429 mg of calcium, 306 grams of carbohydrates, 30 mg of phosphorus, 104 grams of water, 49 mg of iron, and other nutrients.
Main effects of each nutrient:
The bioactive molecules of bird's nest's unique protein content help the growth and development of human tissues and recovery after illness;
Carbohydrates are the main source of the body's calories. Together with protein, they enable protein to perform functions beyond providing calories, and can also promote fat metabolism!
The epidermal growth factor (EGF) contained in bird's nest and the water-soluble substances of bird's nest can directly stimulate cell division, regeneration, and tissue reconstruction, so that bird's nest plays a great role in nourishing and restoring the human body;
Calcium can enhance the blood's ability to coagulate when the skin is damaged, and also helps the human body absorb vitamin B12;
Bird's nest is rich in nutrients such as minerals, active protein, and collagen, among which epidermal growth factor and water-extracted substances can strongly stimulate cell regeneration, division, and tissue reconstruction.
Bird's nest contains a very important polypeptide substance --- epidermal growth factor (EGF), hailed as the ‘beauty gene.’ It can stimulate the division and proliferation of many kinds of cells, promote delicate skin and aging in the human body, and can activate cells in aging skin, making the skin smooth and elastic.
How to identify bird's nest
The price and quality of bird's nest depend on six major indicators: place of origin, expansion ratio, degree of completeness, cleanliness quality, mouthfeel, and moisture content.
1. Place of origin
Indonesian bird's nest accounts for 80% of total global bird's nest production, Malaysia 13%, Thailand 5%, Vietnam 2%. There are three places in China that produce bird's nest: Yanyan in Huaiji County, Zhaoqing City, Guangdong; Yanzidong in Jianshui County, Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan; and Dazhou Island in Hainan (already closed off as a protected island). Because they are close to the Tropic of Cancer, bird's nest harvesting is highly seasonal and the output is scarce, with the total amount less than one ten-thousandth of global bird's nest production.
2. Expansion ratio
“Expansion ratio” is calculated by weight: the difference in weight between bird's nest after soaking and when dry. The greater the multiple, the better the “expansion ratio.” Generally, high-quality bird's nest has an “expansion ratio” of 6 to 8 times (if naturally dried at normal temperature and normal humidity, the “expansion ratio” of bird's nest is more than 12 times; only when the expansion ratio reaches more than 12 times is it a supreme-grade bird's nest).
3. Degree of completeness
After the harvested bird's nest is cleaned of feathers, it is necessary both to keep the bird's nest clean and to preserve its degree of completeness, which also requires a certain level of craftsmanship. Premium special-grade nest cups select only first-born nest cups, which are complete and plump, with dense texture and crystalline luster, an ultimate enjoyment of quality living art.
4. Cleanliness quality
If bird's nest has not been carefully cleaned, then whether nest cups, nest strips, nest webs, nest corners, or nest fragments, all will have feathers, and there may also be impurities such as eggshells and beetles. Therefore, naturally clean bird's nest is also one of the indicators of good bird's nest.
5. Mouthfeel
High-quality bird's nest has a delicate, smooth mouthfeel. If the water used to stew bird's nest is sticky, then it has often been coated with glue or added with a thickener. In addition, different grades and types of bird's nest have different mouthfeels: special-grade nest cups are Q-bouncy, smooth, and supple, an ultimate enjoyment; the nest web is the “settling nest” part in the middle of the bird's nest, a delicate web-like structure that supports the egg and the young swiftlet, with a delicate and lubricating mouthfeel and relatively easy to digest and absorb.
The nest corner is the part swiftlets use to fix both ends of the nest. It is the “load-bearing beam” of the bird's nest, rich and crisp with a chewy texture, and also requires a longer stewing time. It is the concentrated nutritious part of the bird's nest.
6. Moisture content
There are many bird's nests on the market with very high moisture content. This kind of bird's nest is extremely cheap, with good and bad mixed together. The moisture content of real bird's nest can reach as high as 40-60%, and even if stored in a wooden box or moisture-proof box it will still deteriorate; while high-quality bird's nest will not become moldy even if not stored in a wooden box.
How to identify problematic bird's nest
1. How to identify bleached bird's nest
Dip bleached bird's nest into water and take it out immediately. After about half a minute, rub and touch it several times with the thumb and index finger. The fingers will carry the stench of chemicals, and the bleached bird's nest will not expand much after stewing, easily dissolves into water, and has no natural egg-white smell.
2. How to identify glue-coated bird's nest
Dip glue-coated bird's nest into water and take it out immediately. After about half a minute, rub and touch it several times with the thumb and index finger. The fingers will feel stickiness, and sometimes a chemical smell can be detected.
3. How to identify dyed bird's nest
So-called dyed bird's nest mostly uses low-priced white nest dyed red or yellow, sold as high-priced blood nest or yellow nest. This kind of fake blood nest and yellow nest is relatively difficult to distinguish before being soaked in water. But once soaked, it can be identified, because the pigment dissolves in water, and the clear water is immediately dyed red or yellow. Moreover, after stewing for one or two hours, its texture becomes soft and mushy like white nest, and the red or yellow color is completely lost to the water. But real blood nest and yellow nest, because the color is natural, will not change color after soaking and stewing. At the same time, because of the rich nutrients and mineral content of blood nest, real blood nest still has a crisp, firm texture after long stewing.
4. How to identify bird's nest
It is mostly seen on the market as bird's nest cakes or bird's nest shreds. There are those mixed with real and fake, and there are also artificial bird's nests made entirely from seaweed that has been bleached, sun-dried, and boiled in water, with a solid white color, little luster, a coarse and hard texture, and a seaweed smell. Natural bird's nest strips, however, have a translucent color with a slight yellow tinge, are glossy, and have no off odor.