The world is filled with eccentric dishes that never fail to amaze us. One such peculiar dish is Bird’s Nest Soup. Though the name might gross you out, this dish is among the world’s most expensive dishes, famous in Southeast Asia. It is an ancient recipe which originated from regions like China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. But what exactly is Bird’s Nest Soup and what makes it so expensive? Let’s delve into the details of this unique dish.
What Is Bird’s Nest Soup?
Bird’s Nest Soup also known as Bird’s Saliva Soup, is named such because its main ingredient is an Edible Bird’s Nest which is also called the “Caviar of the East.” These nests, built by swiftlets found in Southeast Asia, are considered one of the most expensive animal products consumed by humans. Unlike typical birds that use twigs, feathers and straws to build their nests, swiftlets create their nests entirely from the strands of gummy saliva produced by the glands under their tongues. The saliva hardens when exposed to air. Notably, most nests are built during the breeding season by the male swiftlet over a period of approximately 35 days. They take the shape of a shallow cup stuck to the cave walls.
Why Is Bird Nest Soup So Expensive?
Once the swiftlets’ nests are harvested, these are thoroughly cleaned and solidified before being sold on the market. Bird’s Nest Soup comes in various colours including red, gold and cream making it a unique and luxurious delicacy in South Asian cuisine.
The cost of Bird’s Nest soup is nothing short of astonishing. The most sought-after variety is “red nests” from the red-nest swiftlet which can cost a staggering $10,000 per kilogram. However, the most commonly available white and black-nest swiftlet nests are priced between $5,000 and $6,000 (approximately Rs 4 lakh) per kilogram.
How Does Bird’s Nest Soup Taste?
Bird’s Nest, despite being expensive, lacks a strong taste and has a texture similar to softened gelatin and jelly. In Chinese tradition, Bird’s Nest Soup is usually cooked with rock sugar transforming it into a sweet dessert soup. Alternatively, many people prepare this dish without rock sugar and instead mix it with warm milk. The cooking process is extremely critical as while microwaving or boiling on a stove, the nest can lose its taste and can be stripped of its nutritional value. The preferred technique involves gently steaming the nest after soaking it in water to ensure its delicate texture remains intact.
Nutritional Value Of Bird’s Nest Soup
Though there is no scientific evidence of its health benefits, Chinese medicine claims that this soup is enriched with numerous health benefits that can maintain overall well-being. It is believed that this soup strengthens the immune system, relieves digestive ailments, maintains the youthfulness of the skin.
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