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Learn how to easily prepare and cook edible bird’s nest soup, a delicacy that has been treasured for thousands of years.

Double-boiled Edible Bird's Nest Soup (燕窝)

What is bird’s nest soup?

Bird’s nest soup is a delicacy in Chinese cuisine that has been consumed for centuries. The bird’s nest is made from the saliva of certain species of swiftlets. The nest is usually cleaned and any impurities are picked off before cooking it. The bird’s nest is double-boiled until it’s soft and jelly-like in texture. The soup is usually just lightly sweetened with rock sugar.

Where to get bird’s nests?

Make sure you get the nests from reputable sellers and nests that are harvested from cruelty-free farms. Usually, reputable Chinese medicine halls sell this. If you live in Asia, this shouldn’t be an issue. I see a lot of bird’s nests sold in different Chinatowns in California and New York. We didn’t get any because I wasn’t sure about the quality. Indonesia is pretty popular for farmed bird’s nests. I had my sister in law got us some farmed bird’s nests from Indonesia.

Cruelty-free bird’s nest

I know after posting this post, some people will leave me strong remarks or objections. I DO NOT support bird’s nests obtained from the caves. Harvesting bird’s nests from the wild caves is a very delicate process. It involves nest harvesters climbing up to mountainous locations, where the nests are built, and carefully collecting them. The swiftlets like to build their nests at very high and difficult-to-reach places (which makes sense!) and hence, the harvesting process itself is a very dangerous activity. Some died or were injured because of that. This activity also endangered the swiftlets population because the harvester will just take the nests regardless of whether the nests have been abandoned by the swiftlets or not since they have reached such a difficult place to collect them. Cave nests have become very rare these days because of that and the whole process is also not sustainable and practical.
House Nests farmed at swiflets farm is a more practical, sustainable, and cruelty-free practice. The houses are usually set up to mimic the cave environment to encourage swiftlets to build nests in designated areas. The swiftlets build the nests for the babies and will abandon the nest after the young learn how to fly. The harvesters only collect the nests after they have been abandoned. So, this activity doesn’t harm the bird or disturb the young.

Different types of bird’s nests

1. Color: Bird’s nests come in different grades and with that, different price ranges. They are also different in color. You will see white nests and some red nests. The white nests are produced by the Aerodramus fuciphagus species. These are typically considered the highest quality and most expensive. The red nest is usually less expensive. Cave bird’s nest can be slightly off-white due to the natural environment it is in, but usually, it shouldn’t affect the taste or quality of the nest, the texture can be different however
2. Different forms: Nests are usually sold in a dried form. Some nests are sold in one whole piece, some are in strands. The whole piece is usually more expensive than the strands. The strands have more impurities and hence they are fragmented into smaller pieces for easier cleaning
3. Different grades: Many sellers grade their bird’s nest with AAA, AA, A, B, and C, with AAA being the highest quality. The grading system is based on the size and thickness of the nests. The larger and thicker the nest, the more expensive it is

What are the benefits of consuming bird’s nest soup?

Women in Asia have been consuming bird’s nest soup for thousands of years. It is priced for its anti-aging effect by promoting tissue regeneration. It is also believed to help boost the immune system and nourish the lungs and other organs. In traditional Chinese medicine, bird’s nest soup is considered a luxurious and nourishing food.

Will I consume bird’s nest soup regularly?

Very unlikely! First off, I think I can get a boost in my immune system and other benefits provided by the bird’s nest from other foods too. This is also an expensive ingredient that not everyone can afford to do (including myself). I feel like it’s the consistency of eating healthy and healthy lifestyle matters more than just consuming bird’s nest soup now and then.

Do different qualities of bird’s nests have different tastes and texture?

Oh yes of course 🙂 I remember when we were little, mom prepared bird’s nest soup once a month and she usually got the strand types. I remember her using tweezers to pick off impurities from the nests after soaking. The strand types have a “crunchier” texture, though still jelly-like. The higher-quality nest has a very smooth texture and the flavor is slightly different too.

What’s the best way to cook bird’s nest soup

The best way to cook the nests to preserve their nutrients is by double boiling. Double boiling is a cooking technique that involves gently cooking food items in a covered container placed within another pot of simmering water. The ingredients aren’t exposed to direct heat, hence, nutrient loss is minimal.

What does bird’s nest taste like?

On its own, it has almost no taste. It has a very faint taste of the ocean, slightly briny, but not too obvious! They usually pick up flavors from whatever you cook them with.

How to prepare a bird’s nest for cooking

1. Soak the nests
You can double-check with the seller on how long to soak the nest. Some bird nests are no longer raw and have been “pre-cooked” and do not require any soaking at all. In that case, you can follow the instructions on their package. Some only needs to be soaked for a shorter period, less than one hour. In general, most bird’s nest needs to be soaked for at least 4-5 hours to soften
2. Pick off any impurities
After soaking, the nests would swell up and soften. Drain off the soaking liquid. If you see any impurities, dark spots, etc, use a tweezer to remove it and give it a quick rinse