CULINARY USE OF SWIFT NEST

                       

THE CULINARY

Swiftlet nest could be an authentic and pricey ingredient in the world of culinary.

 

Edible bird's nests are bird nests created by swiftlets using solidified saliva, which are harvested for human consumption made from nests of some species of swiftlet, mainly the edible white-nest swiftlet and the black-nest swiftlet.

Edible black-nest

    Edible white-nest                                            

     

         

Instead of twigs, feathers and straw, these swiftlets make their nest only from strands of their gummy saliva, which hardens when exposed to air. Once the nests are harvested, they are cleaned and sold to restaurants. 

They are particularly prized in Chinese culture due to their rarity, and supposedly high nutritional value and exquisite flavor.

  

Picture above shows the cleaning process of black-nest

Edible bird's nests are among the most expensive animal products consumed by humans, with an average nest retailing for about $2,500 (US) per kilogramme in Asia.

 MARKETING OPPORTUNITY: average nest retailing for about $2,500 (US) per kilogramme in Asia

Meanwhile, the type or grading of bird`s nest depends on the type of bird as well as the diet of the bird. It differs in color from white to dark brown.

 

Bird's nests are graded according to the order they are harvested and can be graded as first stage bird's nests, second stage bird's nests and third stage bird's nests in which first stage bird’s nests is the highest in term of value.

 

 Then, authentic bird's-nest soup is quite popular throughout Asia. 

It is also extremely expensive; many western restaurants serve a less expensive version consisting of soup with noodles shaped to resemble a bird's nest.

One of the world's most expensive ingredients: Birds nests

 

REFERENCES: 

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