Nutritional Benefits of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

According to ancient Chinese medical literature Ben Cao Gang Mu and Ben Cao Qiu Zhen, it is said that Swiftlet’s Spit Soup holds great medicinal properties which helps to enhance one’s health and is able to treat illnesses, especially those related to the lungs.

Health Benefits of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

According to ancient Chinese medical literature Ben Cao Gang Mu and Ben Cao Qiu Zhen, it is said that Swiftlet’s Spit Soup holds great medicinal properties which helps to enhance one’s health and is able to treat illnesses, especially those related to the lungs.
Top 10 Health Benefits of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup:
1. Helps to replenish the Yin Qi of the lungs, treats cough that was caused by the weakness of lungs and helps to decrease the probability of the having illness cause by a change in the Qi of the lungs. Especially those caused by the lack of Yin Qi of the lungs which include asthma, breathlessness, long-term cough, coughing of blood, bronchitis, abnormal perspiration and low fever.
2. Helps to treat vomiting, builds up the Qi of the stomach and stops the coldness of the stomach. Also helps to cure nausea and gurgling sound of the intestines which are caused by the lack of Yin Qi of the stomach.
3. Helps to replenish one’s Yin Qi which has been greatly reduced after a major illness like tuberculosis.
4. Helps to stop abnormal perspiration, improves one’s energy, frequent urination (polyuria) and urination in the night (nocturia).
5. Rejuvenation of the skin and decreases the occurrence of wrinkles.

Nutritional Benefits of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

6. Swiftlet’s Spit Soup contains different types of amino acids which help to improve the intelligence and immunity of children.
7. The consumption of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup before and after pregnancy helps to stabilize the conditions and improve the health of the foetus.
8. Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is a natural source of food which helps to replenish the Jin Ye (body fluids) in one’s body. Since Swiftlet’s Spit Soup contains a variety of amino acids, it can help in the recovery of different types of cancer. For example, esophageal cancer, throat cancer, stomach cancer, liver cancer and colorectal cancer.
9. Helps to decrease the discomfort cause by side effects of chemotherapy and electrotherapy. For example, dryness and soreness of throat, constipation, hoarseness, swelling and nausea.
10. Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is high in nutritional value which serves as good health supplements for the general public.

Suitable Consumers

1. Pregnant ladies. Swiftlet’s Spit Soup provides essential nutrients for both the mother and the foetus and help to improve their health. Other than improving the immunity and the intelligence of the baby, it also helps the mothers to regain their figure rapidly after pregnancy by improving the breaking down of fats.
2. Children who are growing up require a lot of nutrients for normal growth and Swiftlet’s Spit Soup helps to improve the immune system of the child and improve their intelligence.
3. Youth. Swiftlet’s Spit Soup enhances all aspects of body functions, improve metabolism and immunity, regulate hormones level which helps to brighten and moisturize the skin.
4. Working adults and students. Swiftlet’s Spit Soup helps to decrease tiredness, relief stress and improve one’s strength and energy, keeping them healthy and alert.
5. Senior citizens and people who have just recovered from sickness. People who are suffering from bronchitis, asthma and flu can consume Swiftlet’s Spit Soup regularly to help to improve their health conditions.

Swiftlet’s Spit Soup Drink

In many parts of Asia you can find a species of bird called the swiftlet. Certain species, known as cave swiftlets, are unique in that rather than building nests from twigs they form intricately woven threads from their gummy saliva. These threads then harden when exposed to air.

These nests are a prized culinary ingredient through much of Asia as they are thought to promote healthy skin, strengthen the liver, and boost the immune system (this is partially true as the saliva has high amounts of calcium and potassium). These nests can go for nearly $30-$10,000 per kilogram depending on the type of species of swiftlet the nest comes from and due to the difficulty in harvesting the nests themselves. (Incidentally, many species of cave swiftlet are in danger of going extinct due to this harvesting.) They're often used in Swiftlet’s Spit Soup and in various drinks.

A friend brought a few of these Swiftlet’s Spit Soup drinks over during a game of mah jongg one night. Now, given, eating bird spit has never been one of those things I've ever longed to try both because of the ecological impact and because it sounds a bit gross (but, then again, I eat honey and that's not much different). Still, they were here so I tried it.

The mixture is made of only sugar, Swiftlet’s Spit Soup, and water. The resulting taste is that of a slightly minerally and even somewhat floral simple syrup. There is an odd texture from the bits of rock candy and nest floating about. Honestly, the idea is far more exotic and unique than the flavor. Still, I bet you could create some truly wicked cocktails from this.