Frequently asked questions about Birds Spit Soup

Birds Spit Soup 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 swiftlets, golden swiftlet’s saliva has the purest protein content and the highest nutrient value.

1.How to pre-soak and expand Birds Spit Soup?

It is necessary to have Birds Spit Soup soaked and expanded before stewing. “soak & expand” means to soak Birds Spit Soup in cool and clean water so that it can be totally infiltrated with water and absorb maximum water content. Different types of Birds Spit Soup have different soaking time, varying from 3-7 hours. Wild/cave nests require at least 24 hours of soaking time. Birds Spit Soup will expand after soaking. Minimal amount of feathers might be found in pure natural Birds Spit Soup after expansion. Use tweezers to remove them or rinse the Birds Spit Soup several times.
Procedure:
1.Soak Birds Spit Soup for some time first (different types of Birds Spit Soup need different time of soaking), the water should cover the whole Birds Spit Soup so that it can absorb maximum water content. Refresh soaking water once or twice during soaking.
2.Use tweezers to remove the feathers. (For the elderly or persons having bad eye sight, perform this by placing Birds Spit Soup on a piece of white cloth to reduce tiredness).
3.Put the soaked Birds Spit Soup in a strainer to filter the water.
4.Rinse the Birds Spit Soup several times. Tear off the Birds Spit Soup tissue and wash away the impurities with running water.

Frequently asked questions about Birds Spit Soup

2.How to cook Birds Spit Soup?

All types of Birds Spit Soup should be prepared with indirect heat (i.e., stewing or steaming). One should take caution not to boil the nests. Please cook the nests after they have been pre-soaked (see above for pre-soaking).
Stewing Tips:
•When stewing, the water must cover the entire Birds Spit Soup, but the condensed level depends on individual’s preference.
•The water level inside the stewing mug (including Birds Spit Soup, water and other ingredients) should not be higher than 70% of the stewing mug’s height. The water level will rise once the heated ingredients expand.
•Bring water to boil, then reduce the heat down to simmer.
•The ‘mitogenic stimulation factor’ contained in Birds Spit Soup is active at around 80 degree Celsius. It will lose its effectiveness if direct boiling is applied on Birds Spit Soup causing damage to its proteins at high temperature. Therefore, always remember to apply low heat to simmer Birds Spit Soup and keep the temperature inside the stewing pot at around 80 degree Celsius.
•You may choose to stew the Birds Spit Soup with an electronic stewing pot which is safe and convenient. All you need to do is to adjust the heat intensity to low level.
•Add rock sugar at the end of stewing process to make the Birds Spit Soup taste better.
•For hygienic consideration, please consume Birds Spit Soup with a thoroughly clean spoon. Reheat the Birds Spit Soup when necessary. However, please do not make use of microwave oven since high temperature will spoil the nutrient of Birds Spit Soup.

3.Is there any special method to treat Birds Spit Soup corner?

Yes. It is preferable to cut the corners out from the Birds Spit Soup body and soak them separately to allow longer soaking time. Birds Spit Soup corner is the first saliva secreted by swiftlet and becomes the hardest portion on both edges of Birds Spit Soup; therefore, it has the highest viscosity and needs longer soaking time (about 6 to 8 hours). In order to make it more water absorbable, it should be torn to into smaller pieces before soaking. Birds Spit Soup corner has bigger expandability than Birds Spit Soup body and has better mouth-feel.

4.Why stains are found on Birds Spit Soup?

Swiftlets may accidentally break the eggs during hatching and the nest is thus stained. Although stains do not look good, they will disappear after soaking. The presence of stains does not affect the nutritional value of Birds Spit Soup.

5.Why red Birds Spit Soup is red in color?

There are some misconceptions about red Birds Spit Soups. The most common misconception is that the red-colored Birds Spit Soups are formed by swiftlets which vomit their blood to build the nests. Another common misconception is that the red Birds Spit Soups are produced by a different species of swiftlet which consumes different kinds of water and/or food.
However, contrary to these popular misconceptions, swiftlets do not vomit blood, neither do they consume different kinds of water and food. All the so called “blood-red cubilose” on the market is fake. All the blood red nests are ordinary Birds Spit Soups that have been dyed, resulting in excessive nitrite levels. (http://foodsafety.suencs.com/archives/18586). Some dishonest vendors apply red dye to their Birds Spit Soups in order to fetch higher prices. Nitrite is used as a preservative in curing meat, and to make meat redder. (http://foodsafety.suencs.com/archives/18686). Hence, red Birds Spit Soups may be harmful rather than beneficial to humans.
For the foregoing reasons, BBNest only sells only the highest quality, pure natural, white Birds Spit Soups.

6.Is cave Birds Spit Soup better than farmed Birds Spit Soup?

No. Cave Birds Spit Soups are more limited in quantity; and hence, the higher prices. However, unknown to many consumers, cave nests are not better than farmed nests. In fact, cave nests generally contain more foreign materials and feathers than farmed nests. As a result, cave nests are generally darker in color than farmed nests. Cave nests also have naturally thicker texture.

7.Do Birds Spit Soups that contain feathers have substandard quality?

No. It is normal for Birds Spit Soup containing some hair feathers. Since Birds Spit Soup is the home of swiftlets, it is natural that detached feathers would fall on the nest during swiftlets’ activities. Our workers meticulously and thoroughly remove these feathers. However, it is possible that a very minimal amount of feathers would remain due to their microscopic size. Bleaching is the only way to make all the feathers disappear. Birds Spit Soups that do not contain feathers at all, most likely have undergone chemical bleaching. BBNest does not use any chemical or beaching agents in our processes. We sell only pure natural nests that are processed with chemical free and bleach free methods.

8.Why are cracks found on Birds Spit Soup?

For easy removing of feathers from Birds Spit Soup, workers may squeeze out narrow space from the nest tissue to pick out the feathers. However, this will not affect the quality of Birds Spit Soup.

9.Is that the color of Birds Spit Soup the whiter the better?

Birds Spit Soups have dark, light, bright and dim appearances. Their natural color is yellowish or ivory. This is because the food they eat is not purely white, and so is their saliva. If the Birds Spit Soup’s color is pure white, it may have probably been bleached.

10.What makes Birds Spit Soup have rejuvenation efficacy?

It is believed that the water-soluble protein of Birds Spit Soup contains both Mitogenic Stimulation Factor and Epidermic Growth Factor which some people believe can boost cell growth and tissue repair, as well as regulate the function of the endocrine system, thus help maintain fine skin.

11.Is old stock of Birds Spit Soup better than fresh Birds Spit Soup?

No. Birds Spit Soup comprises mainly of protein. The nutritional value of Birds Spit Soup will decrease after stored for a long time. It is suggested not to store Birds Spit Soup for over one year.

12.Birds Spit Soup dissolved in water after stewing. Is it fake ?

The stewing of Birds Spit Soup does not require long time. The stewing time differs according to the type of Birds Spit Soup.

13.Why use indirect heat to cook Birds Spit Soup?

It is hard to control the fire temperature when applying direct boiling. When Birds Spit Soup is heated to high temperature, its water-soluble proteins may be destroyed, losing its nutritional value. Simmering keeps the temperature of Birds Spit Soup at around 80 degree Celsius. This way, the water-soluble proteins are preserved - the aroma and nutrition of Birds Spit Soup are retained.

14.Why we have to stew Birds Spit Soup with rock sugar, but not brown sugar or white sugar?

According to Chinese medicine practitioners, rock sugar is the purest amongst other sugar. They believe that rock sugar is nourishing and can lubricate lung and supplement body energy. White sugar is easy to induce phlegm and brown sugar is hot in nature. So, rock sugar is the best sweetening agent to stew Birds Spit Soup.

15.How to make rock sugar syrup?

First, put some rock sugar in a cooking pot and add hot water. Stir from time to time while simmering until the rock sugar melts completely. Pour the rock sugar syrup into a bottle after it cools down and place in a refrigerator. Add rock sugar syrup to stewed Birds Spit Soup when served, according to your own taste. Generally, we recommend using 20 grams of rock sugar for every cup (250 ml) of water.

16.How to prepare Birds Spit Soup congee?

First, stew Birds Spit Soup with low heat. When done, mix it with a pot of cooking congee right before it reaches its boiling point. Boil together for about 3 to 5 minutes.

17.What is the appropriate amount of Birds Spit Soup for consumption?

1.1 to 2 tablespoonfuls daily, or 1 to 2 bowls weekly.
2.Birds Spit Soup is best absorbed when taken with an empty stomach, preferably in the morning.
3.Consuming Birds Spit Soup continuously increases its efficacy.
4.For beginner, it is suggested to take Birds Spit Soup daily. Frequency can be lowered after a certain period (say half a year). If taken every other day, stick to consistency.

18.What are the things we have to take note when taking Birds Spit Soup?

1.It is recommended to cook Birds Spit Soup by steaming (indirect heat) method. Direct cooking or boiling will lead to loss of its nutrient.
2.Birds Spit Soup should be steamed without adding any flavorings.
3.Steamed Birds Spit Soup and Birds Spit Soup congee are common for serving at home.
4.When Birds Spit Soup is served salty, add salt right before serving. If salt is added at the beginning of steaming, salt will decompose Birds Spit Soup evolving shrinkage and crispy results. You may choose to steam Birds Spit Soup together with chicken soup or mushroom soup instead.
5.When Birds Spit Soup is served sweet, add rock sugar syrup 15 minutes before steaming is done so as to preserve Birds Spit Soup’s quality. You may choose to prepare the serving together with coconut juice or almond juice.

19.Is it seasonal to consume Birds Spit Soup?

No. Consumption of Birds Spit Soup is fine for all seasons. In summer, serving of refrigerated Birds Spit Soup together with fresh fruits or cool milk is delicious and healthy. In winter, serve Birds Spit Soup together with meat can produce nourishing and stomach warming effect.

20.Can Birds Spit Soup be consumed when a person is in “Cool” or “Warm” body characteristic?

Yes. Birds Spit Soup is mild and calm in nature with plain taste. Therefore, it can be taken by any person having either “Cool” or “Warm” body characteristic.

21.Can a person catch a cold from consuming Birds Spit Soup?

No. According to ‘The Dictionary of Chinese Medication’, people having their lungs and stomachs in cold and weak state are not advisable to take Birds Spit Soup. Therefore, a person suffering from cold should eat Birds Spit Soup only after recovery.

22.What is the best way to preserve fresh Birds Spit Soup?

Store the Birds Spit Soup in the vegetable compartment of a refrigerator after purchase, or, on the day of purchase, and then put it inside a crisper or an airtight box. Birds Spit Soup can be stored for a long time in this way.

Types Of Edible Birds Spit Soup

Cave Birds Spit Soup

Workers use bamboo ladders, scaffoldings and rope ladders to climb the cave walls in order to harvest the nests. This high-skilled work has been a local tradition for generations.

Cave nests are mostly found in tall and steep cave walls which making nest-harvesting a high-risk profession. These nests usually contained high volume of feathers and debris that required intensive cleaning and are later made into strips or chunks. Its rarity makes the price extremely high.

House Birds Spit Soup

House Birds Spit Soup is found uniquely in coastal areas of Southeast Asia. With its geographical and climate advantages, the local people have transformed regular buildings into the ideal breeding ground for swiftlets thus called Bird’s House.

Unlike the common swallows, swiftlets are smaller in size (roughly about 11~12cm) and have a rather glittering greyish brown back. They have narrow wings and short tail feathers, which make them excellent in flight. Their legs are tiny, not suitable for walking. They spend most of the day in flight.

Swiftlets hunt during the day and return to the birdhouse at dusk. Adequately moist, these custom-built buildings provide an optimal nesting ground for the birds.

Even though their tiny legs may seem weak, swiftlets clutch firmly at the outer wall of their nests when resting. They never stay inside the nest.

People commonly think that consuming Birds Spit Soup would render swiftlets homeless. In fact, these nests are constructed for laying eggs. After the swiftlets grown up and flew off, the nests are then abandoned and can be readily harvested.

Nest-collectors will carry out monitoring scheme regularly and harvest only after baby chicks hatch, grow and leave the nest. The periodical monitoring and caretaking have contributed to the increase rate of birth and survival of the swiftlets in recent years.