Blood Bird’s Nest

Blood Bird’s Nest is one of Asian Pacific leading Blood Bird’s Nest brand.  Awarded for being a leader in the industry and a pioneer for the Blood Bird’s Nest industry since 1998 in Hong Kong. 

What Is Blood Bird’s Nest?

Blood Bird’s Nest is the saliva produced by a special species of swallow called the swiftlet while building the nest. The saliva glues with other impurities (such as feathers) to form the nest. Among the different species of switlets, golden switlet’s saliva has the purest protein content and the highest nutrient value.

About Blood Bird’s Nest:

Blood Bird’s Nests are mainly produced in Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Burma and Hainan Province in Southern China. The texture and taste of Blood Bird’s Nest vary with the swiftlet’s habitat. Compared with Cave Nest, House Nest is cleaner, softer and smoother in texture. So, the soaking/stewing time can be shortened. Cave Nest is mainly found in Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia, whereas House Nest is mostly produced in Indonesia.
There are three harvesting periods of Blood Bird’s Nest in a year -- the 'first phase’ (first harvesting period) Blood Bird’s Nest is the most nutritious Blood Bird’s Nest and contains much more proteins and minerals.
'First phase’ Blood Bird’s Nest is harvested from November to January every year – springtime of Indonesia. In this season of abundance and thriving, the swiftlet grows up strong and healthy and is able to secrete plentiful saliva. Under such favourable environment, Blood Bird’s Nest harvested during this period is purer and gets bigger expansion after soaking. The body of Blood Bird’s Nest is obviously larger in size and thicker in texture.

Blood Bird’s Nest

The second and third phase Blood Bird’s Nest is not as good comparing with the 'first phase’ Blood Bird’s Nest in terms of quality and quantity. During these seasons, the swiftlet is weak due to unfavourable weather and lean food supply. Saliva secretion is slow and lots of feathers fall off, thus increase impurities. The Blood Bird’s Nest is usually smaller in size and has lesser expandability.
IBNI has its own Blood Bird’s Nest farmhouses and processing plants in Indonesia. Some time before every Chinese Lunar New Year, IBNI ships fresh ‘first phase’ Blood Bird’s Nests to Hong Kong through air cargo. This guarantees sufficient supply of ‘first phase’ Blood Bird’s Nests in the market all the year round.
Chinese have the culture of consuming Blood Bird’s Nests traced back to Tang Dynasty, 1,400 years ago. It was told that Empress Wu Zetian used to rely on taking Blood Bird’s Nest to resist ageing. Since then, Blood Bird’s Nest had been frequently found on the upper class diet. During Ming Dynasty, it was officially included in the imperial menu. In those days, premium grade Blood Bird’s Nest was among the articles of tribute presented by adjacent Southeast Asian countries to the emperor of China. It was commonly known as “Imperial Blood Bird’s Nest”.

Blood Bird’s Nest Testing

Analysis Nitrate and Nitrite in Blood Bird’s Nest

SaniChem Resources offers analysis of nitrate and nitrite in Blood Bird’s Nest by ion chromatography (IC). IC is a more sensitive method where a level as low as 0.1 ppm may be detected. Our method involves extracting the nitrate and nitrite from the Blood Bird’s Nest matrices into solution and analysing the solution for nitrate and nitrate and a few other anions such as chloride, sulphate and phosphate. Sample amount required is about 1 gram which should be dry as that is the export requirement. Each sample should be placed in a separate small plastic bag, sealed and labelled before shipping to our laboratory. Depending on our workload, the turnaround time is between one to five days. We also provide moisture content analysis on the Blood Bird’s Nest for export quality compliance using Karl Fischer titration method and bacteria count test.

Blood Bird’s Nest Testing

Why test for Nitrate and Nitrite in Blood Bird’s Nest?

Nitrate (NO3-) and nitrite (NO2-) are naturally occurring ions that are ubiquitous in the environment. Both are products of the oxidation of nitrogen by micro-organisms in plants, soil or water and, to a lesser extent, by electrical discharges such as lightning. Nitrate is the more stable form of oxidized nitrogen but can be reduced by microbial action to nitrite, which is moderately reactive chemically. Studies have shown that nitrate are found in many types of food especially meat products and vegetables. In fact it was shown that up to 90% of human dietary intake of nitrate come from vegetables which may contain up to two grams of nitrate per kilogram of vegetables. Nitrite, on the other hand are generally found in baked food and certain types of vegetables at much lower level at 2-4 mg per kg food. However, about 20% of nitrate may be converted to nitrite in the mouth by action of saliva and bacteria and more will be converted in the stomach. The toxicity of nitrate is generally due to its reduction to nitrite. Nitrite may react with some amine compounds to form N-nitroso compounds which were found to cause cancer in animal study and thus are suspected carcinogens. Based on many studies, health regulating bodies such as World Health Organization (WHO) has issue the allowable daily intake (ADI) of nitrate and nitrite to a maximum of 3.7 mg and 0.07 mg per Kg body weight respectively. Thus the allowable daily intake of a 60 Kg human is 222 mg for nitrate and 4.2 mg for nitrate per day. The WHO allowable limit for nitrite in food is 34 ppm and under the Malaysian Standard for Blood Bird’s Nest, the allowable limit is set at 30 ppm for nitrite.
China has recently adopted an allowable limit of 30 ppm (mg/Kg) of nitrite in imported Blood Bird’s Nest. This limit had been agreed with the Malaysian Government recently. Recent study by the Department of Veterinary Services, Johor(a state in Malaysia) reported that most Blood Bird’s Nest produced in Johor contain levels of nitrites in excess of the allowable limit. Their finding is summarised in the table below.
It is interesting to note that the percentage of uncleaned Blood Bird’s Nest containing 0-20 ppm nitrite was 57% while 32% contained 0-160 ppm nitrate. Upon cleaning, the percentage of 0-20 ppm nitrite increased to 62% and 0-160 ppm nitrate level was 81%. Nitrate and Nitrite are naturally occurring ions that can be found abundantly in the environment, including food. Studies have shown that Nitrate and nitrite are found in many types of food such as vegetables, fruit and meat product.

Nitrate and Nitrite

Nitrite is often used as a food additive for preservation and coloring purposes and the prevention of bacterial growth. Although it is widely used to cure meat, nitrite, in the presence of secondary amines in food product or in digestive system, will be converted into Nitroso Compounds and can cause health problems, including cancer, if ingested in large amounts. However, Nitrite will not pose serious threats to human health if it is used in accordance with the standards.
Nitrate which always present as sodium nitrate is the more stable form but tend to be oxidized to Nitrite in the existence of bacterial activity and oxygen. Thus, both nitrate and nitrite must be monitored to ensure the quality and safety of meat products.
Nitrite in red Blood Bird’s Nest may be formed naturally. Though, there are patches of circumstances found that a few sellers attempted to turn white Blood Bird’s Nest into red Blood Bird’s Nest to persuade customers who believe the blood-red nests are more nutritious thus increase the higher prices and demand from consumer for the red Blood Bird’s Nest. Unfortunately, adulterated Blood Bird’s Nests often feature excessive nitrite levels.

Heavy Metal

Heavy metal comes from an external sources. Swiflet birds travel around to acquire foods and drinks. During the process, there are a lot of possibility for the birds to bring along contaminant to their nests. Other than bacteria, heavy metal is one of a main concern among Blood Bird’s Nest consumer because most of heavy metal is very well known to cause cancer.

Bacteria

Since swiflet bird made the nest using its saliva, there are very high probability for bacterial growth especially the nest will be going to be a place where the birds live which we can expect fecal from the birds to present. Because of that, hygienic factor of the Blood Bird’s Nest is the main priority. Cleaning process must be done very thoroughly to make sure the Blood Bird’s Nests are clean and edible without affecting health of consumer.

Protein analysis

Protein analysis seems to be unnecessary because protein is not the main nutrient aimed by the consumer here. Raw Blood Bird’s Nest contain a quite high amount of protein. A high quality Blood Bird’s Nest should contain a high amount of protein too.
Though, there is a research found that after processing, the protein level decrease so much due to the cleaning process by using hydrogen peroxide, H2O2 as bleaching agent. It does not only eliminate all the bacteria and heavy metals, it also removes the essential sialic acid, minerals, epidermal growth factor and antioxidants. Through protein analysis, we can confirm no bleaching agent was used during the processing and the nutrient level is preserved to the optimum.

Moisture

Some Blood Bird’s Nest processor spray water to their processed Blood Bird’s Nest for easier packaging. While the Blood Bird’s Nest already clean, the high water content in the Blood Bird’s Nest provide a good environment for yeast and molds growth. This will force them to use preservative to prevent the growth thus increasing the level of nitrite, which when consumed in high amount will cause cancer.

Learn About The Name Of The Blood Bird’s Nest

I. Name by origin

Wild oats / in the cave: Two species of oats usually live in the cave is the fuciphaga (Popular called oats row) and Maxima oats (nest of black nest). But only the nest of oats row is known as Wild / Cave Nest in the market. Possibly because of the dangerous nature of taking oats in the cave, this kind of oats usually have the highest price compared to other types of oats in the market. Nest in the cave, with the natural conditions in the cave, usually shaped like a cup, thick body and hard legs. A cup-like appearance will help protect eggs or nest from being eaten by other animals and the weather. The feet of oats need to be hard to be attached to the wall because the cave is often high humidity. This type of nest is found in Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Learn About The Name Of The Blood Bird’s Nest

Nest in the nest: Nest of the Esculanta oat is the type of nest often seen in the oat farms. Many people still think that swiftlet is can be raised but in reality we can only rely on construction techniques and design to lead the Blood Bird’s Nest in the nest can not feed them like chicken industry. The raising of the nest requires a huge investment, time for the Blood Bird’s Nest is long and especially not able to feed with artificial feed by the nature of wild Blood Bird’s Nest and can only be caught in flight. Depending on the color of the nest, the nest in the house is often white ivory, the quality of the nest depends on the area to eat more birds for prey? The oats are of high quality, the oats are large and thick as the nest in the mound, the food of the birds are flying flies like mosquitoes, pests, etc., oats can be harvested from 1 -4 times a year.

II. Name by color

The reason why the nest of different colors is still a subject of debate. According to Vietnamese folklore, it is believed that the old birds or Blood Bird’s Nest in the season of food shortage must use their blood with saliva to build the nest. This explains the red or pink color as well as the hatchability of blood nest compared with White Nest. However, many hypotheses about the temperature, humidity or diet of Blood Bird’s Nest are still under investigation. In addition, when the nest is made on the red cliffs and the leaking water from the rock slits also create the red of the nest. However, this type of blood nest with the cliff has a water immersion equivalent to candy (ie 7-9 times)
Swiftlet: This is a type of oats are bright red color and is the most expensive among the colors because of the rare and high demand. Not all production establishments have this type of nest. And if so, the type of Blood Bird’s Nest can only be harvested 1-2 times a year with very small. The number of swine and Hong Yen nest accounts for less than 10% of the total output in the world market. It is said that the red of the Blood Hyacinth is due to nesting process, Blood Bird’s Nest not enough saliva should have used its own blood to mix with saliva to build nest.
Canary: Like Blood Bird’s Nest in terms of price and scarcity, the canary is orange but the color can vary from tangerine to yellowish egg yolk. Darker the color, higher the price.
White oats: The most popular nest in the market. Each year can harvest 3-4 times. The number of Blood Bird’s Nest (including 3 species of oats above) sold on the world market accounts for 90% of the total number of oats in the market.

III. Name of the concept

Blood Bird’s Nest in Vietnam have hundreds of years of age and contribute not less to the revenue of local natural gifted nature. The Yen and professional traders are often distinguished by the class as: Blood (Red, due to nest nest position, the nest gradually turned to red) – (There is also documented that the nest is red because of the Blood Bird’s Nest released in the nest. the best oat and the highest economic value)

• Pink (pink, due to Blood Bird’s Nest nest position, the nest gradually turned pink)
• Quan (To, about 10g or more)
• Thien (high above, white nest, from 8-10g)
• Bai (Nest less than 6-7g)
• Geography (Located at the bottom of the cliff, black, dirty)
• Debris (oats broken by exploitation or transportation)

Blood Bird’s Nest in Vietnam

Consumers’ growing taste for nests made from swiftlet spittle gives ‘birdhouse’ a whole new meaning, but could it mean lasting damage to Vietnam’s ecosystem? By Lien Hoang. Photo by Lee Starnes.

After Uyen Vien injured his arm in a 2008 motorbike crash, he stemmed the lingering pain with a trusted remedy: the saliva of birds.

Tropical swiftlets use their spittle to build nests, and Vien used one of those nests to make a medicinal soup.

“I had a bowl once a day, and after a week, I felt better,” he says.
Seeing those effective results, he decided to construct a house outside Ho Chi Minh City where the birds could build their nests. By harvesting those nests and charging as much as $2,000 per kilogram, many swiftlet ‘farmers’ across Vietnam can make a fortune. It’s part of a larger trend around Asia, where consumers are becoming increasingly wealthy and increasingly attracted to such luxuries as Blood Bird’s Nest.

Blood Bird’s Nest in Vietnam

But could the growing demand hurt the regional ecosystem?
Gathorne Cranbrook, co-author of the 2002 book Swiftlets of Borneo, says the domesticated birds (which live in buildings) are “genetically different” from their wild cousins (which live in caves). The birds can navigate in the dark and are very behaviour-driven, so those born in houses will grow up to seek out similar places in which to build their own nests.
As competition for food increases, the farmed swiftlets risk shutting out the wild ones, as well as other varieties of swifts whose slobbery secretions aren’t so coveted. In some ways this is a zero-sum game because of the so-called “carrying capacity”, or the maximum number of birds that the local environment can support.
“It is a disadvantage to the wild birds,” Cranbrook, a leading expert on swiftlets, says in a telephone interview from his home in England.

A centuries-old trade

Bird saliva is not a new delicacy in Asia. In the 16th century, and perhaps earlier, people were spelunking across the region to feed the lively nest trade. Cranbrook says Dutch merchants noticed this when they arrived at the time, especially in the tropical climates where the swiftlets thrive.
Caving could be a deadly profession; there are still reports to this day that people have fallen from ladders during harvests. In Vietnam, much of the industry officially centres on Nha Trang.
But that has changed in recent years, as skyrocketing demand pushed companies and individuals to set up brick-and-mortar homes for the swiftlets. Some build small dwellings just for the birds, while others simply add on attics to their existing homes to welcome feathered tenants. The taste for Blood Bird’s Nest especially saw a boom in the 1980s.
“It used to be for kings and the rich,” says local trader Tran Anh Trong. “But now it’s popular.”
Shops that sell Blood Bird’s Nest (to yen) have exploded around Ho Chi Minh City to cater to domestic customers, as well as those from Hong Kong, Singapore and China. Countries from Indonesia to Malaysia breed swiftlets as well. Bloomberg reported in August that demand is so great that it “is spawning a cottage industry that has attracted investment from VinaCapital Group Ltd, the nation’s largest fund manager, and helping mint new millionaires.”
Vietnamese who do buy the nests often do so as gifts to elder relatives. People consume them after undergoing surgery or giving birth. They’re believed to improve everything from digestion and libido to asthma and aging. Their actual healing properties are up for debate. Even Trong says it might just be in people’s heads.
“Psychology is very important,” he says.
Some Vietnamese don’t seem to mind whether the benefits can be proved, saying they feel better after drinking Blood Bird’s Nest, and that’s proof enough. Still, a VnExpress article in January cited associate professor Ngo Dang Nghia as saying recent research suggests the benefits are real.
He said the drooly concoction helps generate cells so that ailing bodies recover more quickly, supports firm bone development, keeps skin looking young, and strengthens the immune system against viruses.
Unlike bear bile and rhino horn, Blood Bird’s Nests comprise a largely legal trade because they don’t seem to harm the creatures involved.
But Jean-Francois Voisin, who co-wrote The White Nest Swiftlet and the Black Nest Swiftlet, recommends wild nests over farmed ones because they’re larger and more sustainable. He also warns against the indiscriminate use of pesticides, which harm the insect populations that feed swiftlets.
“Another problem with farm swiftlet[s] could be genetic pollution,” Voisin writes by email. He explains that interbreeding could result in a species that is less adaptive to nature, less productive, and more susceptible to disease. More field research needs to be done, but the Blood Bird’s Nest industry is large enough to pose unintended consequences that won’t be realised until decades down the line.

General Knowledge about Blood Bird’s Nest

Cave Blood Bird’s Nest:

Cave Blood Bird’s Nest refers to the nests built by swallows in natural stone walls or limestone caves. These Blood Bird’s Nests absorb a lots of Minerals from the cave and thus cause them to be beige or yellow in color and firmer in texture. They contain more fine feathers compared to house Blood Bird’s Nests. They expand to 2-3 times larger upon soaking require longer soaking time. They are delicious after stewing, taste better and can be stewed for longer hours.

General Knowledge about Blood Bird’s Nest

Collocalia's Nest:

Collocalia’s Nest means the Blood Bird’s Nest which built with pure saliva of swiftlets, with minimum impurities, in strips, with strong absorbent and able to expand 7-8 times, it is the best quality Blood Bird’s Nest. They are usually white, yellow, red or grey in color.

[caption id="attachment_4269" align="aligncenter" width="630"] General Knowledge about Blood Bird’s Nest[/caption]

House Blood Bird’s Nest:

House Blood Bird’s Nest refers to the nest built by swiftlets in the building created artificial. They build their nests under a well protection environment, so the Blood Bird’s Nest contain less impurities than Cave Blood Bird’s Nest and usually present in white color (also name as White Blood Bird’s Nest).
1. Whole Piece Blood Bird’s Nest:
These are curved or boat-shaped Blood Bird’s Nest which has been selected from the harvested Blood Bird’s Nest, with feathers removed, before they are sold. As whole piece Blood Bird’s Nests are naturally obtained and varies with sizes and shapes. These types of Blood Bird’s Nests are thicker than other types of Blood Bird’s Nests. They also possess higher nutritional value, with better flavour and better expandability when soaked. They are the cleanest among all Blood Bird’s Nests and they have high expandability. Sometime the Blood Bird’s Nests produced would be like boat-shaped, it is depend on the place they build the nest.
2. Narrow Blood Bird’s Nest Pieces:
These are whole piece Blood Bird’s Nests which have been accidentally broken during harvesting or delivery; or whole piece Blood Bird’s Nests which have been cut into narrow strips or separated after careful selection. Although they are not attractive physically, their quality and method of preparation are similar to whole piece Blood Bird’s Nests.
3. Blood Bird’s Nest Corners:
They are the hardest portions at both ends of the whole piece Blood Bird’s Nests and the highest concentration part of saliva from swiftlets. They normally separated from whole piece Blood Bird’s Nests and soaked separately because they require longer soaking time (about six to eight hours). The Blood Bird’s Nest corners are usually torn into smaller pieces prior to soaking so that they expand more easily. They are expanding more compared to whole piece Blood Bird’s Nests and crispier.
4. Blood Bird’s Nest Fragments:
These is as a result of breakage during harvesting and transportation or during the cleansing process. They are made up of small amounts of Blood Bird’s Nest.
5. Blood Bird’s Nest Biscuit:
These are made from broken Blood Bird’s Nest during harvesting. They have been processed and compressed into different shapes (such as rhombus, sphere, crescent and rectangular) and the quality is one grade below that of whole piece Blood Bird’s Nest.

Introduction to Blood Bird’s Nest

Blood Bird’s Nests are rich in protein, amino acids and minerals. Scientific reports have repeatedly shown that Blood Bird’s Nest can enhance tissue growth and cellular regeneration, slowing the ageing process, and boost cell mediated immunity in humans. It can also regulate the endocrine system and other body functions.

What exactly is Blood Bird’s Nest?

The Blood Bird’s Nests are made by swiftlet Collocalia-Fuciphaga, found in the tropical coastal area in South-east Asia. This unique swiftlet build their nests only with their saliva to form a composition of interwoven strands of salivary laminae cement. The nests are then crystallized and ready for swiftlet to lay eggs. When the egg has hatched and the young chick fledged, the nest is abandoned – a female will never lay her eggs in an old nest.
Blood Bird’s Nests are rich in protein, amino acids and minerals. Scientific reports have repeatedly shown that Blood Bird’s Nest can enhance tissue growth and cellular regeneration, slowing the ageing process, and boost cell mediated immunity in humans. It can also regulate the endocrine system and other body functions.
Blood Bird’s Nests are beneficial to all kinds of people, especially children, the elderly, pregnant women, and post-surgery recoverers. Patients suffering from coughs, tracheitis, bronchitis, asthma or lung disease also benefit.

Introduction to Blood Bird’s Nest

Recipes

All recipes below use  Premium Blood Bird’s Nest (either white or golden nest), and makes four servings.
Important note: The natural nutrients in Blood Bird’s Nest will be degraded in extended conditions of high heat. Thus, to preserve the nourishing benefit of Blood Bird’s Nest, the product should be cooked on low heat in water.
Blood Bird’s Nest preparation: Soak 18.8g (half a tael) of Blood Bird’s Nest in water for 8 to 12 hours, then drain. A standard package of  Blood Bird’s Nest contains 37.5g (one tael).

1. Royal Lady’s Blood Bird’s Nest

Ingredients: Half a tael of  Blood Bird’s Nest, 1 bowl of water, 2 bowls milk, 5 egg whites, a little ginger juice, a portion of pearl powder, rock sugar adjusted to taste.
Method: Add water to the Blood Bird’s Nest and cook on low heat for one hour. Add all other ingredients except the rock sugar. Mix and immediately seperate into four bowls. Steam each bowl for 10 more minutes. Just before serving, dissolve some rock sugar in each bowl.
Effect: Smooths the skin, replenish qi and soothe the nerves.

2. Stewed Blood Bird’s Nest with Papaya Milk

Ingredients: Half a tael of  Blood Bird’s Nest, 1.5 bowls of water, 2 bowls fresh milk, cubed papaya and rock sugar adjusted to taste.
Method: Add water and rock sugar to the Blood Bird’s Nest and cook on low heat for one hour. Add milk and papaya, then continue cooking for 10 minutes.
Effect:Calms the liver and stomach, helps maintain fitness and healthy skin.

3. Stewed Blood Bird’s Nest with Coconut Water and Sago

Ingredients: Half a tael of  Blood Bird’s Nest, 10 tablespoons of fresh coconut water, 3.5 bowls of water, sago, and rock sugar adjustedto taste.
Method: Add water and rock sugar to the Blood Bird’s Nest and cook on low heat for one hour. Seperately cook the sago in the meantime. Then add the coconut water and sago to the mixture and cook further for 10 minutes.
Effect:Cools internal heat, fortifies the spleen and lungs.

Blood Bird’s Nest- A Spoonful Of Legend

Properly known as Blood Bird’s Nest, it’s been a prized delicacy in China and among Chinese people for 1,200 years. The best nests were reserved as gifts for emperors and empresses, who ruled China as gods incarnate.That’s how deep Blood Bird’s Nests roots go into the collective Chinese soul.

Tiny swiftlets use their sticky saliva to build nests onto seaside cliffs and cave walls, to save them from predators. That’s not enough to keep them away from the humans who consider the nest powerful medicine, and are therefore willing to pay more for the bird spit nests, pound for pound, than silver.

Blood Bird’s Nest- A Spoonful Of Legend

While trade in edible nests has been recorded since the T’ang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.), famed 15th century Chinese admiral Zheng He is also credited with starting the Chinese belief in the medicinal powers of Blood Bird’s Nest. As the story goes, shipwrecked sailors scavenging for food found the nests, and He told them to clean and cook them. A few days later, the sailors were full of vim and vigor, and He figured he should tell the emperor.

Benefits of Blood Bird’s Nest

The nests have been credited with a long list of benefits, including ensuring strong children for pregnant women and erasing wrinkles for mature matrons, providing lifelong immunity boosts for children and enhancing sexual prowess for men.
Our GM, Elaine Dang, attests to the soup’s medicinal value; ”I drank this when i was young which is where i get my immunity from,” she happily concludes.

So how exactly does the soup taste like?

”The jellylike strands had a slippery spaghetti texture, yet no discernible taste beyond sweetness from the rock sugar the meticulously cleaned nests were steamed with. It occurred to me that here was a food whose value had nothing to do with its flavors or eating qualities, and everything to with its cultural history,” explains Andrew Z. Galarneau News Food Editor at BuffaloFood.
Recognizing their value, Thai, Burmese and Indonesian entrepreneurs have been building condos for edible nest swiftlets, purpose-built structures as tall as apartment buildings. They’re honeycombed with alcoves where swifts can nest, lured by recorded swiftlet calls broadcast over loudspeakers.