Bird's Nest Product of Thailand

Bird's Nest

The expensive high-quality nests are the first nests harvested for the first time in the harvesting season. The bird's nests collected during this time are white and less contaminated. The third nests, are more dirty because they are harvested after the baby birds have grown up and left the nests. These nests need to be cleaned up more than the earlier ones. Bird's nests? Bird's saliva? Yes, but there's something more about it that you may not know before. Have you ever wondered why people, especially the Chinese are fond of bird's nests? And why are they so expensive? A kilo of unprocessed raw bird's nests costs 100,000-120,000 baht (1USD = around 40 baht).  Since the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 618-907), the Chinese have regarded bird's nest soup the supreme delicacy with rich medicinal properties. They drink it as a tonic to boost the function of the lungs. Here, Thaiways is introducing to you some interesting information about bird's nests.

The operators must strictly hold on to the conservation principles which aim to sustainably make the most of bird's nests. That is to utilize them for the longest possible period of time and produce the least waste. Harvesting the nests especially for the third time means that although the nests are of poor quality, they had better be collected than be allowed to decay since the baby birds have already left the nests. Concessionaires must not break the rules of birds's nest harvesting because it will lead
to devastation.

There are three species of swifts in Thailand that produce edible nests viz. the Edible-nest Swiftlet, Pacific Swift and Black-nest Swiftlet. The nests of the first two species are white while those of the last are black with feathers, dust and droppings mixed together, and are considered of low quality. Even though most bird's nests in Thailand are products of Edible-nest Swiftlets, in the east of Thailand, especially in Trat Province, most nests harvested are of Pacific Swifts.

Edible-nest Swiftlets and Pacific Swifts build their white nests in the form of a half cup. The nests are constructed by glutinous strands of starch-like saliva of the birds. Sometimes the nests are mixed with their feathers.  Bird's nests are believed to act as a tonic for the lungs and can help keep the function of respiratory system homeostatic. They are also excellent for boosting the blood circulation system for children, patients in recovering stage, women after delivery and the old. Bird's nest soup is praised as a superb tonic so full of benefits that it is prohibited to add cooking oil or other seasonings to it.