Beneficial Effects of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

In the article "Yan Wo Kao" (The investigation on Swiftlet’s Spit Soup) in Monthly Mingpao Vol. 231, Prof. Y. C. Kong and Prof. P. S. Kwan (1985) mentioned that in China the consumption of the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup was first documented in the ancient Chinese literature "Hai Yu" (The language of the sea) (Huang, 1536) in the Ming Dynasty. In "Min Zhong Hai Cuo Shu". Tu (1596) stated that the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is the food of the rich. However, the medicinal value of the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup was only confirmed by several scholars about hundred years later after a long history of consumption and testing and has been promoted to be a nourishing and replenishing medicine with specific therapeutic effects. The literature of "Ben Cao Bei Yao" (The essential notes of materia medica) (Wang, 1694) and "Ben Cao Feng Yuan" (The medicinal herbs in the wild) (Zhang, 1695) of the Qing dynasty show evidence that the ancient Chinese had the belief that the Swiftlet’s Spit Soups did have some therapeutic effects and were used to cure disease. In the years 1757 to 1871, many scholars ang experts had discussed in their literatures in details the transformation of the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup from an expensive food to a precious medicine. They include the scripts "Ben Cao Cong Xin" (New Compendium of materia medica), "Ben Cao Qiu Zhen" (New compilation of materia medica) and "Ben Cao Gang Mu Shi Yi' (A supplement to the Compendium of materia medica). Prof. Kong further indicated that, according to Chinese literature, the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup does have obvious healing effects to post-stage tuberculosis, gastric ulcers and bleeding of the lung. Beside, it can promote growth.

In recent years Prof. Y. C. Kong has been conducting detailed investigations on Swiftlet’s Spit Soups. Based on repeatable results of in vitro exposure experiments he has discovered that the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup contain a "cell division inducing hormone" and an "epithelial growth factor" that can stimulate the growth and division of cells, thereby enhancing tissue growth, cellular regeneration and cell-mediated immunity in humans. The investigations have provided good scientific evidence that supports the notion that the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup can facilitate growth, replenish strength and vital energy, accelerate the recovery from disease and reinforce immunity.

The specific animal proteins in an Swiftlet’s Spit Soup have the following three functions :

1. To stimulate the regeneration of cells
2. To enhance cell-mediated immunity
3. To enhance the resistance of an individual to X-irradiated damage

This is the main reason why the proteins of other precious medicinal foods like the sea cucumber, abalone, scallop, and egg cannot be compared to those contained in the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup.

Beneficial Effects of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

The Swiftlet’s Spit Soup help regulate the function of the endocrine system as well as other body functions. They strengthen the body, moisturize the skin, maintain beauty, provide energy and enhance the metabolism of fat. The Swiftlet’s Spit Soups are adaptable for either sex or any age group.
The consumption of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup during pregnancy can increase nutrition and improve the overall health of the mother and child and will give the infant a flexible mind. Woman consuming Swiftlet’s Spit Soup after giving birth can recover more quickly and slim rapidly to help maintain their beauty.

Swiftlet’s Spit Soup for Kids

The stomach and spleen of newborns function weakly. This can easily cause diarrhea and the loss of appetite. Feeding the newborns with Swiftlet’s Spit Soup that has been dissolved in milk can improve these deficiencies. Babies that are 6 month old can be fed with rice porridge or congee containing Swiftlet’s Spit Soup.
Children require more nutrition during their growing period. Being fed with Swiftlet’s Spit Soups can help strengthen the body and stimulate the growth of the brain. Swiftlet’s Spit Soup not only tastes good but when served with rock sugar, fresh milk or oatmeal aids digestion and constipation.

Swiftlet’s Spit Soup for Youngsters

For youngsters, always consuming Swiftlet’s Spit Soup can enhance metabolism, strengthen various body functions and reinforce immunity. Besides, it can also smooth the skin and maintain eternal beauty. People, who are highly stressed and are busy in study and work can alleviate tiredness, relieve spiritual pressure and recover body strength through always consuming Swiftlet’s Spit Soup.

Swiftlet’s Spit Soup for old and weak people

Swiftlet’s Spit Soups are also beneficial to people who have just recovered from illness, who are old and weak, who suffer from asthma and who are always catching the cold or influenza. A regular diet of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup can help alleviate the trachea, smooth breathing, benefit the control of asthma, expel phlegm, recover vital energy and extend longevity. It is particularly effective to those who have sleep disorders, bronchitis, coughs or hangovers. Swiftlet’s Spit Soups also show obvious therapeutic effects to help moisturize and replenish the lung and clear away intestinal heat.

Cooking of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

Preparation of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

The procedures include: soaking and cooking.

Soaking

Dry Swiftlet’s Spit Soup need to be soaked for about 1 hour. If need, the harder parts can be separated by hand during this process.

Cooking

Swiftlet’s Spit Soup need to be double boiled and cannot be heated directly. Place the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup in a porcelain stewing pot. The porcelain stewing pot can then be placed in a large cooking pot of water. Heat the pot till the water in the cooking pot boils (the water in the porcelain stewing pot should not have boiled yet), and then switch to low heat and continue to heat for about 1 hour.
The water in the porcelain stewing pot should completely cover the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup and the water level should be about 0.5cm above the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup. As the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup will expand when heated, a larger porcelain stewing pot would be advisable to avoid wastage through over flowing during cooking.
The water in the cooking pot should be much lower than the height of the porcelain stewing pot, so as to prevent the boiling water in the pot to enter the porcelain stewing pot. However, if too less water is in the cooking pot, then it will take a longer time to cook the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup.
After the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup has been cooked and have cooled down, it can be put into the fridge to be consumed cold at a later time.

Common Ingredients that are added to Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

Rock sugar, red dates (jujube), wolfberries, lotus seeds, Lilium bulbs, longan, snow fungus, Chinese yam (nagaimo), dried scallop, fresh milk, Chinese pear, papaya, etc can be added as desired. If the cooked Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is to be consumed shortly, then the ingredients can be added and cooked with the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup. However, the ingredients will shorten the storage time of the cooked Swiftlet’s Spit Soup. Alternatively, the ingredients can be cooked separately and added to the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup whenever they are to be consumed.

Shelf life of dry Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

Our Swiftlet’s Spit Soup are imported directly from our Indonesian swiftlet house once they are harvested, cleaned and dried. As such, they are fresh and can be kept for 1-2 years. The Swiftlet’s Spit Soup should be kept in an air-tight container and stored in a cool area, away from direct sunlight.