What is Bird’s Spit Soup?

Q : What is Bird’s Spit Soup?

A : Bird’s Spit Soup is the nest of certain kinds of swiftlets. Bird’s Spit Soup is a Chinese delicacy that has been claimed by Chinese for Centuries to be an effective health-giving tonic. The nest in itself is made from a nourishment-rich gel secretion which modern research has revealed to contain a number of health promoting qualities.

Q : How good is the Bird’s Spit Soup to human body?

A : Bird’s Spit Soup contains plenty of nourishment and possesses what the Chinese call “rejuvenating effects”. Modern science has help ascertain the age-old belief that Bird’s Spit Soup contains a host of different proteins (water-soluble glycol-protein that promotes cell division within the immune system), vitamins, and various other minerals.
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What is Bird’s Spit Soup?

Q : What are ingredients the crook added to fake Bird’s Spit Soups?

A : The ingredients used to fake the nests include resin, seaweed, and white fungus called “the white Tremella”. White Tremella mushroom is added in between the nest-pieces. So, one of the keys to distinguish it when you are purchasing Bird’s Spit Soup is to quickly check the base of the nest pieces. Fake Bird’s Spit Soup externally looks very similar to the real ones but if you were to check the base, it is very obvious you can deteck chunks of Tremella mushrooms. Bird’s Spit Soup is never this chunky.

Q : What are the difference of Bird’s Spit Soup in white, black, and red color?

A : The white and black nests are differentiated by type of the swiftlet who build the nest, the white nest is made from the white Bird’s Spit Soup call “Aerodramus Fuciphaga” and the black nest is made from the black Bird’s Spit Soup call” Aerodramus maxima”. The price of black nest is less expensive than other color nests. The white nest is the best Bird’s Spit Soup with its quality. The red nest is the rarest one that would be made by both kinds of swiftlets. The red nest have been believed contain the bird’s blood but the color actually comes from a chemical reaction between the bird’s saliva and the limestone cave.

Q : Is there any test to differentiate the contaminants from Bird’s Spit Soup?

A : The difference between chemically treated processed nests from those of untreated materials can be detecked by the shine of the cement strands. Nest cement that is too shiny may also be the result of chemical additive. Because the color within the nest is permanent, cleaned nests that are too red in color could be the result of dye treatment which will dissolve when cooked. A simple test that can be carried out to determine if the nests are genuine is the iodine test for starch. Adulterated nests will turn mouldy if left in a moist chamber for a couple days. Other more complicated tests such as gas or gel chromatography can be used to separate the contents in the laboratory.

Q : What is the difference between Cave Bird’s Spit Soup and House Bird’s Spit Soup?

A : Since cave nest are made by natural cave living swallows and difficult to collect, some believe them to be more valuable than house nests, and they often fetch a higher price. However, cave nest generally contains more dirt and feather than house nest. House nest are also made by naturally-living swallows but are built in the human construction such as abandoned houses, building, tunnels. Generally, the texture of house nest are smoother compared to those of cave nest, and with less feathers and other contaminants. Some consider house nests are more superior in comparison of shape, size, color, cleanliness and consistency.

Q : Tips for choosing Bird’s Spit Soup

A : 1. You should feel the Bird’s Spit Soup with your hands. It should be dry, light and hard. Bird’s Spit Soup that are sticky, soft and weighs heavier will become mouldy easily.
2. Bird’s Spit Soup should be clean and with little dirt. Bird’s Spit Soup with feather and dirt is not only time-consuming to clean. It also weighs heavier.
3 .If the Bird’s Spit Soup in cupped shape is dry, there should be 6-7 pieces in every 38 grams. On the other hand, there are usually 9-11 pieces of Bird’s Spit Soup cake in every 38 grams. However, this depends on the size of the Bird’s Spit Soup cake.
4. After soaking, 38 grams of good-quality (processed) Bird’s Spit Soup will weigh around 263 to 300 grams.
5. The quality of processed Bird’s Spit Soup depends on how many the long strands. The more the long strands are, the better quality is.