Edible bird's nest

燕窩

nourishes yinrelieves drynessmoistens the lungsnourishes the complexionreplenishes qi補而不燥

The nest of cave and house swiftlets, built from strands of the birds' hardened saliva, cleaned and dried, and sold as whole cups, strips or fragments graded by shape and colour. Soaked for hours then briefly double-boiled, it turns into silky, gelatinous threads with almost no taste of its own; the point is the delicate texture, and over-cooking dissolves it away.

TCM properties

Nature · neutral　Flavour · sweet　Meridians · lung、stomach、kidney

Traditional food therapy

In Cantonese tradition it is the gentlest of luxury tonics, double-boiled with rock sugar to nourish yin, moisten dryness and the lungs, and keep the complexion fine; tonifying without heatiness.

Cautions — read first

[SAFETY CRITICAL] A strong allergen, being swiftlet saliva protein. Not for anyone with a protein allergy, and give a child only a small first taste and watch them.
Not while you have a cold or fever
Adulteration is common in the market, including glue coating, bleaching, sugar water injected to add weight, and dyed fake blood nest. Buy only from a bird's nest house with a good name, and treat a price that looks too cheap as suspicious.
Pregnant women may eat it, but in moderation and from a reliable source
Double-boil for 25 to 40 minutes only. Overcooked, it dissolves into water.

Preparation

Soak it in purified water for 3 to 4 hours, changing the water once or twice along the way, then pick out the feathers, pull it into strands and drain. Double-boil it gently (隔水燉, the covered jar sits in a water bath) for 25 to 40 minutes, and add the rock sugar only in the last 5 minutes before you turn off the heat.

Origin

印尼（蘇門答臘、爪哇屋燕為主）及馬來西亞 — AU retail nests are Indonesian-origin at specialist shops (Wellsoon), with premium cave-grade tiers also sold

Availability in Australia

Herbal shops / specialists · A$340–431 / 100g
standard Indonesian grade at Wellsoon ($339.99–430.99 per 100g); cave grade to ~$981/100g (Fortune AAA Wild Cave 37.5g $368)

Pairs well with

Rock sugar Red jujube date Goji berry / wolfberry Dried longan flesh Lotus seed

Soups that use this ingredient · 1

Double-boiled bird's nest with rock sugarA$17–35

冰糖燉燕窩

nourishes yinrelieves drynessmoistens the lungsAll yearAutumn

百子櫃Edible bird's nest· 1 dried nest (about 5 to 8 g)百子櫃Rock sugar· to taste

“The pot Ah Ma keeps for her night owls.”