1) What is Bird's Nest?
2) How many types of bird's nest?
3) How many varieties of bird's nest?
4) Where does bird's nest come from?
5) Why bird's nest is good for us?
6) Who is suitable to consume bird's nest?
7) How to choose good quality bird's nest (dried nest)?
8) Is it easy to cook bird's nest?
9) Is your bird's nest safe for consumption?
10) How can I be assured of the quality?
11) Is Nest & Eversky Brands new in the market?
12) What is Xylitol?
13) What is Fructose?
14) Is there scientific prove for bird's nest value?

1) What is Bird's Nest?

Bird's nest is referring to the saliva produced by swallow, a special species called the Swiftlet, while building the nest. Saliva acts as glue and pasted to form a thin flaky wall in the nest. When saliva meets the air, it becomes harden and a white bird' nest cup is formed. The whole process takes around 45-60 days.

2) How many types of bird's nest?

Bird's nest can be classified into Cave Nest, House Nest and Grass Nest. It is then grouped into White Nest, Golden Nest and Red Nest.

Cave Nest: It is found in the cave. Cave nest has tiny feather and firm texture. Nutrient value is comparatively higher.

House Nest: Swiftlet builds nest inside a house which is known as the swiftler house. It has less feather and texture is much softer after cooked.

3) How many varieties of bird's nest?

Bird's Nest Cup
Bird's Nest Cake
Bird's Nest Strip
Bird's Nest Crumble or Flake
Bird's Nest Corner

4) Where does bird's nest come from?

Bird's nest come from tropical countries in Southeast Asia region such as West Malaysia, East Malaysia (Sabah & Sarawak), Indonesia, Thailand & Vietnam. Due to high market demand and limited supply, bird's nest prices are always high.

Bird's nest does not come from China or North-Asia countries. Be careful of fake product, especially when the prices are very cheap!

5) Why bird's nest is good for us?

Bird's nest contains glycoprotein, amino acids and rich in mineral contents such as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, carbohydrate, iron and iodine - nutrients that have many benefits to the body, such as improve metabolism, tissue and cell growth and enrich vital energy.

Experts have concluded that bird's nest has three main functions:

1) It enhances the rebirth of cells and tissues.
2) It improves the immune system.
3) It strengthens the body health and accelerates recovery from illness.

6) Who is suitable to consume bird's nest?

Ladies: Frequent consumption results in fairer skin, helps you to stay young and look radiant.

Pregnant Women: Consumption during pregnancy improves the immune functions of the foetus and mothers will be able to recover easily after giving birth.

(Note: Please consult your doctor before consuming bird's nest as it depends on individual body system. Best after 5th month of pregnancy.)

Elderly: Clears phlegm, strengthens lungs and kidneys, improves spleen as well as enhances appetite.

Children: Enhances immune ability, resulting in less vulnerability to colds or flu.

(Note: Best after age 3 and above).

Men: Improves kidneys and strengthens lungs, and therefore less inclined to get weak.

Bird's nest is a great food for all ages and gender.

Tips: Bird's nest do not cause allergy, unless you are allergy to the product.

7) How to choose good quality bird's nest (dried nest)?

There are 4 steps to choose good quality and genuine bird's nest.

Look: Bird's nest should appear in dense fibre and irregular thread like texture. Colour distribution of red nest should be uneven. Be cautions if the colour of red nest is evenly distributed.

Smell: Bird's nest has its own unique aoma. It delivers a natural "egg-like" taste after stewing. Something fishy or greasy is a fake one.

Touch: Soak and pull it. If fake one, it is likely to be easily broken and low elasticity.

Soak: Natural environment causes nest to be in colours, as well as the food intake of the swiftlets. Colours remains unchanged even after soaking.

Tips: Moisture is another consideration when making purchase. The price will be much lower should those nest has less moisture or too dry. It will crack easily if the nest is too dry.

8) Is it easy to cook bird's nest?

Soak dried nest in lukewarm water for 2 hours. Nest will expand by 50%, use pincer to pick tiny feather. Drain off the water and transfer to steaming pot. One piece of nest is good enough for 2 persons serving. Add approximately 2 bowl of lukewarm water into the pot. Steam for two hours (cave nest), 1 hour (house nest). Nest will expand further by 25%. Use low heat to retain bird’s nest nutrients. Add rock sugar, honey, ginseng etc before serving.

In busy society today, consumers prefer bottled bird's nest that is ready-to-eat at anytime!

Tips: Ask the retailer whether the nest that you buy is Cave nest or House nest as the steaming time is different.

9) Is your bird's nest safe for consumption?

Our bird's nest products are manufactured under stringent quality process. We are awarded with HACCP certification. Products are tested by approved laboratory e.g. SETCO, and verified by AVA (Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore) and HSA (Health Sciences Authority of Singapore) for safe consumption. Our products are also approved the AQIS (Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service).

10) How can I be assured of the quality?

We are one of the largest bird’s nest manufacturers in Singapore. We import and export direct source of bird’s nest. We have internal R&D team, quality control and assurance team who work closely with external laboratories and the authorities to bring safe and quality products to all our customers.

Nest & Eversky are our house brands. Our products are marketed in most TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) outlets and some leading supermarkets.

12) What is Xylitol?

Xylitol is a natural sweetener. It is suitable for people who are health conscious and diabetics. It is a 5 carbon sugar alcohol that is used as a sugar substitute.

Xylitol can be found in fibers of many fruits and vegetables including various berries, corn husks, oats and mushrooms. It will not have impact on insulin levels.

13) What is Fructose?

Fructose is a monosaccharide found in foods. One of the three important dietary monosaccharide along with glucose and galatose. It is from natural food such as honey, tree fruits, berries, melons, some root vegetables such as beets, sweet potatoes, parsnips and onions.

Fructose is suitable for people with diabetes mellitus or hygerlycemia. It does not raise blood glucose or insulin concentrations.

14) Is there scientific prove for bird's nest value?

There is no scientific trace for bird's nest yet, but there are many studies that has proven the effectiveness of bird's nest:

Bird's Nest from a Clinical Experimental Point of View:
According to a recent medical research reported by Hong Kong Chinese University, the cell division enzyme and hormone of bird's nest can promote reproduction and rebirth of human cells. The Glycoprotein content directly stimulates cell growth in human’s immune system. As a result, body metabolism is enhanced and functional effects are greatly improved. Effective results of bird's nest are observed when they are consumed by adults (particularly women), children, elderly, and patients.

Bird's Nest from Traditional and Modern Chinese Medication's Point of View:
Chinese Medication Dictionary stated that Bird's Nest is used as restorative and remedial food since the Ching dynasty as recorded in Major Herbs Guidebook and Major Herbs Digest. Previous clinical researches have concluded that bird's nest has a sweet and calm character. Bird's nest contribute medical benefits to lung, stomach and kidney neural system. Several ancient medicine books such as New Major Herbs, Southern Mountain Chronicle and New Herbs Revised, all recorded plenty of detail of bird's nest remedial benefits.

Bird's Nest from a Nutrition Point of View:
The main nutrition contents of bird's nest are carbohydrate (30%) and protein (glycoprotein) (50%) and amino acids (amide, humin, arginine, cystine, histidine and lysine) and various minerals (20%) such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron and iodine.

Bird's Nest from a Biochemical Point of View:
The book Evaluate Bird's Nest written by a biochemist has also proven that protein contained in bird's nest have some bioactive elements which might have nourishing and replenishing effects on humans body.

The experts conclude that bird's nest has three main functions:
1. Enhances the rebirth of cells and tissues.
2. Improves the immune system functions of our body
3. Improves the body's tolerance toward the damage done by X-rays or other radioactive reagents.

For enquiries, please email to kenz@cnthealthfood.com.sg