Edible bird's nest
Region or state | Southeast Asia and East Asia |
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Associated cuisine | Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar |
Edible bird's nest | |
---|---|
Hanyu Pinyin | yànwō |
Bopomofo | ㄧㄢˋ ㄨㄛ |
Wade–Giles | yen4-wo1 |
IPA | [jɛ̂n.wó] |
Yue: Cantonese | |
Yale Romanization | yinwō |
Jyutping | jin3wo1 |
Sidney Lau | yin3woh1 |
IPA | [jiːn˧.wɔː˥] |
Southern Min | |
Hokkien POJ | iàn-o |
Edible bird's nests, also known as swallow nests (
Swallow nests have been used as a delicacy for over 400 years, most often as soup.[1] They are particularly prized in Chinese cuisine due to the rarity, high protein content and rich flavor, and are among the most expensive animal products consumed by humans,[2] with prices up to about $4,300 per pound ($9,500/kg) depending on grading.[3] The type or grading of a swallow nest depends on the bird species, as well as the shape and color of the bird's nest. It is usually white in color, but there also exists a red version that is sometimes called 'blood nest' (血燕). According to traditional Chinese medicine, it promotes good health, especially for the skin.[4]
Etymology
The Chinese name for edible bird's nest, 燕窩 (yànwō), translates literally as 'swallow's (or swift's) nest'; in Indonesia sarang burung walet often serves as a synonym for bird's nest soup.[citation needed]
Culinary use
The best-known use of edible bird's nest is bird's nest soup, a
In addition to their use in soup, edible bird's nests can be used as an ingredient in other dishes. They can be cooked with rice to produce bird's nest congee or bird's nest boiled rice, or they can be added to egg tarts and other desserts. A bird's nest jelly can be made by placing the bird's nest in a ceramic container with minimal water and sugar (or salt) before double steaming.[citation needed]
Production and harvest
The most heavily harvested nests are from the edible-nest swiftlet or white-nest swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus) and the black-nest swiftlet (Aerodramus maximus).[6] Previous studies conducted by Lee et al. have reported that the nutrient composition of edible bird's nest is dependent on the country of origin,[7] food intake of the birds, climate and breeding sites. Most nests are built during the breeding season by the male swiftlet over a period of 35 days. They take the shape of a shallow cup stuck to the cave wall. The nests are composed of interwoven strands of salivary cement. Both nests have high levels of calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium.[2]
The nests were formerly harvested from caves, principally the enormous
In some places, nest gatherers (known in the Philippines as busyadors)[10][11] have seen a steep decline in the number of birds and a rise in unexplained fatalities.[12]
Color
Although bird's nest is usually white, there also exists a red version, called 'blood nest' (Chinese: 血燕; pinyin: xuě yàn), which is significantly more expensive and believed to have more medicinal value. In the market, a kilogram of white bird's nest can fetch up to US$2,800, and a kilogram of red nests up to US$14,000.[citation needed]
The reason for its characteristic redness has been a puzzle for centuries. Contrary to popular beliefs, red bird's nest does not contain hemoglobin, the protein responsible for the color of human blood.[2] Researchers reported in 2013 that 'bird soil' containing guano droppings from bird houses were able to turn white edible bird's nests red, and that edible bird's nests' color is likely caused by environmental factors in cave interiors and bird houses.[13]
Subsequently, a research team at
The researchers also note that the bird nest also readily absorbs nitrite and nitrate from the process' vapor which explains why the red bird's nest contains a high concentration of nitrite and nitrate, which are known to lead to carcinogenic compounds. This may mean that non-white bird's nests are harmful to human health.[14][16]
Market
Indonesia is the largest bird's nest producer in Southeast Asia, exporting around 2,000 metric tons (2,000 long tons; 2,200 short tons) per year, followed by Malaysia at 600 metric tons (590 long tons; 660 short tons), and Thailand, 400 metric tons (390 long tons; 440 short tons). The Philippines, producing roughly 5 metric tons (4.9 long tons; 5.5 short tons) per year, is the smallest producer.[9]
The bird's nest industry in 2014 accounts for 0.5 percent of the Indonesian
Hong Kong and the United States are the largest importers of nests.[18] In Hong Kong, a bowl of bird's nest soup costs US$30 to US$100.[1][18]
Counterfeiting
Besides the natural coloration process, the white nests can be treated with red pigment to defraud buyers, but methods have been developed to determine an adulterated nest. Natural red cave nests are often found in limestone caves in
Authentication
The high demand for edible bird's nest has garnered the attention of counterfeiters to defraud buyers. Fake edible bird's nest or edible bird's nest with adulterants may be harmful to those who consume it. Hence, there is an urgent need to find a solution to the issues regarding the authenticity and quality of the edible bird's nest. Numerous sophisticated techniques have been used for the detection of adulterants in edible bird's nest such as energy disperse X-ray microanalysis, electronic microscopy and spectroscopy.[23] Some other methods including DNA-based polymerase chain reactions, protein-based two-dimension gel electrophoresis and genetic identification based on mitochondrial DNA have found applications in the authentication of edible bird's nest. Previous studies used gel electrophoresis in combination with liquid chromatographic methods to identify some common adulterants in edible bird's nest.[7][24] In this study, gel electrophoresis and liquid chromatography were used for protein profiling and amino acids studies of cave and house nests, and others samples such as white fungus, fish swimming bladder, jelly and egg white. Each of the samples had a unique protein profile which will be reflected on the protein gel and these results were supported by the chromatographic analysis. Gel electrophoresis also was used to identify and differentiate the edible bird's nests based on their geographical origins.[7]
Import restrictions
Because a bird's nest is an animal product, it is subject to strict import restrictions in some countries, particularly with regard to
In Canada, commercially prepared, canned, and sterile bird's nest preparations are generally acceptable, but may be subject to import restrictions.[25]
See also
References
- ^ S2CID 34483704.used to produce the unique texture of this soup
A few species of swift, the cave swifts, are renowned for building the saliva nests
- ^ ISSN 0963-9969.
- ^ "eBay search: edible bird's nest, sold". Retrieved 7 March 2017.
- ^ Maierbrugger, Arno (20 August 2013). "Vietnam seeks investors for edible bird's nest industry". Inside Investor. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
- ^ "Seafoods 1: Bird's Nest (燕窩)". Translating the Suiyuan Shidan. 2014.
- S2CID 154898420.
- ^ ISSN 1759-9660.
- ^ "Inside of a Successful Bird's Nest House". House of Bird's Nest. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Panyaarvudh, Jintana (11 October 2018). "An economic nesting ground". The Nation. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
- S2CID 253421510. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
- ^ Ganancial, Rachel (10 January 2022). "The last of El Nido's "busyadors"". Palawan News. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
- ^ "The remote island of nest gatherers".
- PMID 23142487.
- ^ PMID 29783841.
- ^ "How Edible Bird's Nest Changes Colour From White to Red". Avian Science Institute. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Highlight: Colour of Bird's Nest". spms.ntu.edu.sg. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
- ^ "Vietnam Seeks Millions for Edible Bird Spit Industry". Bloomberg News. 18 August 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ a b Park, Therese (8 February 2005). "Bird-nest Soup, Anyone?". Koreabridge Writings.
- ^ "Chinese Delicacy Tagged with RFID". RFID World. 30 June 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
- .
- S2CID 7821836.
- .
- S2CID 207298711.
- PMID 28873672.
- ^ "Egg Products - Import Procedures". Canadian Food Inspection Agency. 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
Bibliography
- Jordan, David (2004). "Globalisation and Bird's Nest Soup". International Development Planning Review. 26 (1): 97–110. doi:10.3828/idpr.26.1.6. Archived from the originalon 21 October 2008.
- Lau, Amy S. M.; Melville, David S. (April 1994). International Trade in Swiftlet Nests with Special Reference to Hong Kong. ISBN 978-1-85850-030-0.
- Jong, Chian Haur; Tay, Kai Meng; Lim, Chee Peng (August 2013). "Application of the fuzzy Failure Mode and Effect Analysis methodology to edible bird nest processing" (PDF). Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. 96: 90–108. .
- Tay, Kai Meng; Jong, Chian Haur; Lim, Chee Peng (April 2015). "A clustering-based failure mode and effect analysis model and its application to the edible bird nest industry" (PDF). Neural Computing and Applications. 26 (3): 551–560. S2CID 7821836.
- Lee, Ting Hun; Wong, Syieluing; Lee, Chia Hau; Azmi, Nurul Alia; Darshini, Murugiah; Kavita, Supparmaniam; Cheng, Kian Kai (2020). "Identification of Malaysia's Edible Bird's Nest Geographical Origin Using Gel Electrophoresis Analysis" (PDF). Chiang Mai University Journal of Natural Sciences. 19 (3). .
- Chang, Wui Lee; Tay, Kai Meng; Lim, Chee Peng (November 2015). "Clustering and visualization of failure modes using an evolving tree" (PDF). Expert Systems with Applications. 42 (20): 7235–7244. .
- Chai, Kok Chin; Jong, Chian Haur; Tay, Kai Meng; Lim, Chee Peng (August 2016). "A Perceptual Computing-based Method to Prioritize Failure Modes in Failure Mode and Effect Analysis and Its Application to Edible Bird Nest Farming" (PDF). Applied Soft Computing. 49: 734–747. .
- Hun, Lee Ting; Wani, Waseem A.; Poh, Heng Yong; Baig, Umair; Ti Tjih, Eddie Tan; Nashiruddin, Noor Idayu; Ling, Yong Ee; Aziz, Ramlan Abdul (2016). "Gel electrophoretic and liquid chromatographic methods for the identification and authentication of cave and house edible bird's nests from common adulterants". Analytical Methods. 8 (3): 526–536. ..
- Lee, Ting Hun; Wani, Waseem A.; Koay, Yin Shin; Kavita, Supparmaniam; Tan, Eddie Ti Tjih; Shreaz, Sheikh (2017). "Recent advances in the identification and authentication methods of edible bird's nest". Food Research International. 100 (Pt 1): 14–27. PMID 28873672.
Further reading
- Jandam, Kasem (April 2017). Ethnicity and birds' nest resources in Southeast Asia. Thailand Research Fund (TRF). ISBN 978-616-7474-53-3. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
- Ting Hun, Lee., Wassem, A. Wani., & Eddie, Tan Ti Tjih (2015). Edible bird's nest: An Incredible salivary bioproduct from swiflets. LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing. ISBN 978-3659792557.
External links
- Media related to Edible bird's nests at Wikimedia Commons