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.

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.

What Advantages Swiftlet’s Spit Soups

Nutrition-nest swiftlet

Since day one, goodness-nest swiftlet nests or nest was found to have two high nutritional value that is unique and is actively stimulating factor mikrogenik. These two factors would help stimulate the reproduction of cells and cell structure of the body, and is said to be the main source of income skin young, smooth, soft and smooth.
In addition to providing beauty to the skin, it also indicates the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is very nutritious because it contains materials that can provide energy and the internal recovery, particularly launching system blood flow more smoothly.

What Advantages Swiftlet’s Spit Soups

Modern scientific research revealed that it contains high concentrations of minerals, proteins and protein active gelatin, making it the natural health products at once genuine treat for all ages.
Taking a Swiftlet’s Spit Soup in the long run is the best resistance to aging, while elements of the active protein in the nest also stimulates growth of cells in the immune system, thereby strengthening the body fight against disease.
Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is also suitable for pregnant women because it provides benefits to mother and baby. It was clear the baby is born will have skin that is very bright and smooth, and the function of the body is stronger than another baby and mother is recovering more quickly after delivery.
In most cases the benefits of nest that can be enjoyed through the meal prepared, depending on the taste of their own to add delight to entertain. However, it would cost to every decision.
Today, however, recognizes the usefulness and demand is high, especially for beauty, it is available in the form of strokes with cheap and easily shared by all groups.
Swiftlet’s Spit Soup extract can make the active ingredients contained much easier to absorb into the skin to repair the structure of epidermis, the skin thickens and disguise fine lines and wrinkles in addition to providing long-term elasticity of the skin.
Study Chinese Medicine in Beijing found Swiftlet’s Spit Soups made ​​skin whitening agents and also good for eye health. For people with asthma, it is also the best agents to restore and strengthen the respiratory system of the lungs.

The results of experiments and research showed that the nest is useful as:

# Substance collagen contained in each of the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup to launch the blood vessels, increased appetite and improves digestive tract.
# Swiftlet’s Spit Soup to cure coughs and reduce phlegm. It also is good nutrition for the lungs and strengthens the respiratory tract.
# Taking Swiftlet’s Spit Soup during pregnancy can reduce pain in the back, strengthening the baby’s lungs contained. It can also speed up the healing process after childbirth.
# For women, regular diet to improve metabolism, improve skin and slow the aging process.
# For the elderly, feeding on a regular basis to strengthen muscle and bones and increase the immunity against the disease.
# For children, the nest can expand the absorption of nutrients in every food and strengthen the lungs.
# Voted excellent food to other smokers to reduce the effects of nicotine caused cancer and preventing attacks.

Info

On October 3, 2005 in Putrajaya, the Deputy Prime Minister Dato ‘Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak Industry recognizes the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is an industry with high growth potential and generate a lucrative profit.
Production License
Local Government and Department of Veterinary Services has also issued licenses to pegusaha building (nests) that comply swallow certain conditions, according to law.
Aggressive Private Sector Involvement
The private sector has planned several projects MEGA (worth millions of ringgit in Malaysia), especially in Perak, and a few other places in the industry Malaysia.Memperlihatkan Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is great potential and benefits.
Demand Exceeds Supply
Market demand for Swiftlet’s Spit Soup covered the globe like China, Japan, America and Europe and only 20% – 30% of world market demand can be fulfilled (70% -80% failed to satisfy demand)
Swiftlet’s Spit Soup Prices
Depending on the grade and type of nest
Local market price 4,500,00 1kg = RM – RM 6,500.00
World market 1kg = RM 6,000,00 – RM 12,000.00
The highest price RM 12,000,00 – RM 24,000.00.
The success of the Non-Bumiputera entrepreneurs
More than 90% of industry operators Swiftlet’s Spit Soup under the control of non-natives, and they have long enjoyed a gain of multi-million Ringgit Malaysia and became rich.
Capital One: Profit Forever
Capital investors only once to launch the industry and the profits can be collected at any time. Because of land and buildings are shaped permanent.
Gain 80% – 90% Of Revenue
Gain 80% – 90% of industry turnover is an advantage Swiftlet’s Spit Soup. Such gains are not available in any other investment.

Boost your immune system with Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

Swiftlet’s Spit Soups are made from the most expensive saliva on earth, the saliva of Aerodramus swiftlets. The saliva of these swiftlets solidifies and functions as a glue to hold pieces of nest together.

Did you know that Swiftlet’s Spit Soup was introduced more than 500 years ago in China by the Ming Dynasty? It was Admiral Cheng Ho who brought the precious nests from Southeast Asia to the Chinese Emperor. There are also writings related to Swiftlet’s Spit Soup that have been recorded in the history of the Tang Dynasty nearly 1,500 years ago.
Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is particularly prized in the Chinese culture due to their rarity, high nutritional value and exquisite flavour. They are rich with nutrients such as glycoprotein, amino acids and minerals, which are essential for the development of children.

When taken regularly, Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is good for nourishing the skin, boosting the body’s immune system, as well as helping to relieve respiratory ailments such as asthma or chronic coughs. As for seniors, it is used to clear phlegm, ease chronic dry coughs and relieve fatigue.
Swiftlet’s Spit Soups are made from the most expensive saliva on earth, the saliva of Aerodramus swiftlets. The saliva of these swiftlets solidifies and functions as a glue to hold pieces of nest together.
In Malaysia, these nests are harvested from steep cliffs and deep caves in Sarawak and Sabah. If done properly, the harvesting of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup does not affect the ecosystem as the nests are not the permanent homes of the swiftlets – they are only used for the laying of eggs.

Cooking Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

When dissolved in water, Swiftlet’s Spit Soups produce a gelatinous texture, which makes it perfect to be made into a soup or dessert. The most common delicacy made with Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is Swiftlet’s Spit Soup. Here’s the recipe.

Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

Makes 2 servings
Ingredients:
1–2 pcs Swiftlet’s Spit Soup pieces
2 rice bowls of hot water
10 slices of American ginseng
3 tbsp of rock sugar
Method:
1. Add all the ingredients except the rock sugar into an inner stewing pot. Cover with a lid.
2. Place stewing pot inside a larger pot such as slow cooker. Double-boil for about two hours.
3. Stir in rock sugar to taste and cover for about five minutes to allow the sugar to dissolve fully before serving.

Nourishing Swiftlet’s Spit Soup with Ginseng and Rock Sugar

 “How to clean the “unprocessed” raw Swiftlet’s Spit Soup? Let’s check it out! And your effort & time will surely be paid off with this goodness!”

Time to pamper yourself with luxurious Swiftlet’s Spit Soup dessert!

My mum got me some of these unprocessed original Swiftlet’s Spit Soups of the home-bred swallows. That was my first time seeing the raw Swiftlet’s Spit Soups. Unlike those already well-processed with machine types which also moulded very beautifully in standard curve shape and size, these raw Swiftlet’s Spit Soups were full of feathers and dirt, and never in uniformed shape and size. To be franked,I couldn’t imagine the delicious cooked Swiftlet’s Spit Soup dessert was made from these appealing raw ones….
I heard Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is rich in amino acids which reqiured by our body. Eating Swiftlet’s Spit Soup regular helps to improve health condition and it is the best food for more radiant and smoother skin complexion for women, while it helps strengthening lungs and kidneys for men who take Swiftlet’s Spit Soup on regular basis. For young children, Swiftlet’s Spit Soup helps to boost up immune system.

Nourishing Swiftlet’s Spit Soup with Ginseng and Rock Sugar

As for myself, I am more concern on promoting fairer and smoother skin. Not sure if I am over-sensitive, I do feel that my complexion is better after having my homecooked Swiftlet’s Spit Soup every week for the past 1 month (laughing).
And, it is the best to have the unprocessed types of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup to avoid any chance of taking the bleaching chemical substance during the process of cleaning the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup goodness for better commercial value. I convinced myself with this reason, and started to do the cleaning, all manually.
It was indeed tedious and very long a process to get every single tiny feather, dirt and any other excrement out of the hard and dry nest, but they worth it all!
Tool needed:
Sharp tipped tweezer

Method to clean “unprocessed” Swiftlet’s Spit Soup:

1. Soak the dry curvy Swiftlet’s Spit Soup in a large bowl of luke water till soften, about 1 hour or more.
2. Drain and remove softened Swiftlet’s Spit Soup from large feathers and dirt. Place Swiftlet’s Spit Soup in a large bowl of clean water.
3. Repeat step 2 for a few more rounds to get rid of all the large dirty substances.
4. Prepare another separate bowl of water and a sharp tipped ear tweezers to pick up those tiny feather and dirt that are still in the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup. To easily remove the tiny feather that sticks on the tip of the tweezer when you picked up, submerge the sharp tip into the bowl of water you have prepared separately.
5. Drain Swiftlet’s Spit Soup and change to clean water constantly during the few cleaning stages.
You may also separate the cleaned portions out of the large bowl, and place them in another bowl, little by little.
6. Complete the cleaning process till the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is totally free from feather/ dirt. It might take up to 3 hours to complete the task. Now, ready to cook this goodness which should already be in a form of transparent jelly-like thin strands.

Ingredients

3-4 pieces of dry and unprocessed Swiftlet’s Spit Soup (*Prepare with the abovelisted method)
10 grams of thinly sliced ginseng roots (泡参)
5 red dates
1 large lump of rock sugar, about palm sized (or more if prefer sweeter taste)
4 regular bowl of water

Utensil

Double boiler or slow cooker

Method:

1. Place water, ginseng slices and red date into a ceramic bowl/ croak pot (the size of the bowl musn’t be too small, water level should reach max. till three-quarter filled to avoid spillage). Bring it to a boil in double boiler or slow cooker, with medium heat. When water is boiled, reduce fire/ switch to low heat and simmer for 2 hours.
2. Add clean and soften Swiftlet’s Spit Soup and white rock sugar into the bowl/ croak pot, and continue to simmer for another 45 minutes.
3. The fragrance of egg white-like scent will emerge in the air, by then. Ready to serve hot, or store in refrigerator when it’s cooled at room temperature, to serve chilled later.
The top-graded Swiftlet’s Spit Soup should be able to cook into loose crystal clear strands. And its texture should be soft and silky, resembling jelly strips. I loved to have it chilled as it tasted more refreshing.
Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is low in calorie. So, it is alright to have it regularly!
Tips: Every single feather in the raw Swiftlet’s Spit Soup has to be cleaned away, especially if this is to be consumed by young children.
* Unprocessed Swiftlet’s Spit Soup was gotten from neighbourhood country.

Children Will Develop The Most Comprehensive With Gold Food “Swiftlet’s Spit Soup”

Taking care of the baby's nutrition from an early age is a decisive factor in the overall development of the baby. One of the natural nutritional supplements perfect for young children can not exclude Swiftlet’s Spit Soup'Nest. The nutritional value of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup with children has been recognized by experts to be highly effective, helping children develop comprehensively.

1. Origin of the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

Since ancient times, the nest has been considered one of the eight dishes are very much loved by the kings. Swiftlet’s Spit Soup often appear in the breeding season of the nest. In addition, Swiftlet’s Spit Soup are also popular in many places. There are three types of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup, white nest, blood nest and pink nest, each with its own characteristics, however, they all contain a very high source of nutrients. Depending on your child’s preference and age, you can choose the most suitable nest.

2. Ingredients in the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

The main ingredient in the nest is protein and 18 kinds of amino acids. There are some types of amino acids that our bodies do not regenerate themselves.
Not only that, Swiftlet’s Spit Soup also contain more than 30 other nutritious micro. Calcium, iron and phosphorus are all essential nutrients for the health and development of young children.
Thus, with a myriad of nutrients, the nest is considered a very useful food for the health of young children. You can use it as a daily food to supplement your baby.

3. The benefits of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup for children’s health

For the health of children’s nest can bring quite many wonderful uses such as:
With high protein and amino acids, the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup keeps the baby’s body healthy and at the same time boosts the immune system to help children avoid common diseases such as: flu, cough, fever …
For children with malnutrition or lack of substance when using Swiftlet’s Spit Soup will help replenish and compensate for missing substances.
Chromosome in the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is good for the digestive system to help children easily absorb nutrients in the food.
Besides, things like calcium and iron help your baby grow faster.
The use of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup also have the ability to promote brain circulation to help children develop the most comprehensive brain.
The Swiftlet’s Spit Soup does not contain fat but has a very high protein content to provide abundant energy and also very good for the development of children’s bone.

4. How old can children use Swiftlet’s Spit Soup?

Children from 0 to 12 months, this is the first stage of life and extremely important for children. At this age, the recommended source of nutrition for the baby is breast milk. Breastmilk not only provides the nutrients needed to grow but also helps the baby’s immune system improve. Especially, children under 1 year old have digestive system is not perfect and healthy so children can not be absorbed nutrients from the nest. Therefore, experts recommend that children of this age should not use the nest.
At the second stage is from 1 to 3 years, now you can completely let children use Swiftlet’s Spit Soup to supplement the necessary nutrients. At the same time, the nest will also help children develop in the most comprehensive way. However, at this time the child is still quite small so you should balance the dosage and frequency of children use the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup. You should only eat a small amount of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup and a week maintenance from 1 to 2 times. Also, do not forget to observe if your child is adaptable and suitable for the nutrients of the nest. From there you will have better use of the nest for children.
When children are 3 to 5 years old, the use of the nest will be much simpler. The digestive system is perfect and your baby’s immune system is getting stronger so you can increase the dose of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup. Each time you can give children 3gr of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup and 1 week can be used 3 times.
The use of Swiftlet’s Spit Soups for children is very good but you also need to observe the age of children. When using Swiftlet’s Spit Soup scientifically will help children to absorb the maximum source of nutrients in the nest and help children grow better.

5. Notes on the use of nest for children

When you use the nest, you need to find out about the origin of the nest of your choice. Besides, you also have to choose carefully to find the appropriate type of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup in the child’s current. In addition, you should also note the following things to be able to use the nest properly as:
The nest is only used for children over 1 year old and for newborn you should not use children too soon. And the content of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup use for children only from 3gr to 5gr in a day and do not use more than 3 times in a week.
For children you should use children’s Swiftlet’s Spit Soup dish because when processed in this way will keep the maximum nutrients of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup. However, if you want to eat more delicious you can combine with some other nutritious foods.
You should take the child in the evening before going to bed and avoid the children eat Swiftlet’s Spit Soup before meals.
In addition to using the nest to improve and improve the health of children, you also need to combine recreation activities so that children can develop the best and the best.

Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is a delicacy in Chinese cuisine. A few species of swift, the cave swifts, are renowned for building the saliva nests used to produce the unique texture of this soup.
The Swiftlet’s Spit Soups are among the most expensive animal products consumed by humans. The nests have been used in Chinese cooking for over 400 years, most often as Swiftlet’s Spit Soup.

Name

Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

The Chinese name for Swiftlet’s Spit Soup, yàn wō (燕窝), translates literally as "swiftlet nest". When dissolved in water, the birds' nests have a gelatinous texture used for soup or sweet tong sui. It is mostly referred to as "jin wo" unless references are made to the salty or sweet soup in Chinese cuisine.

Harvesting

The most heavily harvested nests are from the Edible-nest Swiftlet or White-nest Swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus) and the Black-nest Swiftlet (Aerodramus maximus). The white nests and the "red blood" nests are supposedly rich in nutrients which are traditionally believed to provide health benefits, such as aiding digestion, raising libido, improving the voice, alleviating asthma, improving focus, and an overall benefit to the immune system.
The nests are built during the breeding season by the male swiftlet over a period of 35 days. They take the shape of a shallow cup stuck to the cave wall. The nests are composed of interwoven strands of salivary laminae cement. Both nests have high levels of calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium.
Hong Kong and the United States are the largest importers of these nests. In Hong Kong a bowl of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup would cost $30 USD to $100 USD.A kilogram of white nest can cost up to $2,000 USD, and a kilogram of "red blood" nest can cost up to $10,000 USD. The white nests are commonly treated with a red pigment, but methods have been developed to determine an adulterated nest.
The nests were formerly harvested from caves, principally the enormous limestone caves at Gomantong and Niah in Borneo. With the escalation in demand these sources have been supplanted since the late 1990s by purpose-built nesting houses, usually reinforced concrete structures following the design of the SE Asian shop-house ("ruko") These nesting houses are normally found in urban areas near the sea, since the birds have a propensity to flock in such places. This has become an extraordinary industry, mainly based on a series of towns in the Indonesian Province of North Sumatra which have been completely transformed by the activity. From there the nests are mostly exported to Hong Kong, which has become the centre of the world trade, though most of the final consumers are from mainland China. It has been estimated that the products now account for 0.5% of the Indonesian GDP, equivalent to about a quarter of the country's fishing industry.

Chrysanthemum & Wolfberry Konnyaku Jelly with Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

“A perfect summer snack?! Anytime, anyday…”

Singapore weather isn’t as hot as before and it rains pretty much lately, but I was still inspired to make these chrysanthemum & wolfberry (枸杞) konnyaku jellies as I could imagine some kind of soothing, healing, and peaceful feeling after eating it as my after-meal dessert. Arrh~~
Alright… it was also partly because papa had just done his cataract and eye Lasik surgery. So, I thought it would be nice to make some of these chrysanthemum and wolfberries goodies for him. Adding of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup was mainly for my benefit, and it sounded perfect for everyone, since we all liked Swiftlet’s Spit Soup!
Despite the extra effort to boil and filter the chrysanthemum petals and worlfberries, this konnyaku dessert is very simple to make as the konnyaku jelly premix is easily obtainable from major supermarket at a very economical price. I got the Redman brand konnyaku power premix (already blend in malic acid and sugar) from NTUC Fairprice at about S$2.50 for 250gram packet.

As for the chrysanthemum , I used the better graded chrysanthemum flower, Gongju (贡菊), which has smaller and more compact petals. These dried flowers are usually packed and sold at any Chinese medical halls or Asian supermarkets for S$5 – $7 a packet. Another type of white chrysanthemum (杭白菊) which has bigger petals is good, too. Its main benefit is to aid for better eye sight, while the one I used is mainly to clear the ‘heatiness’ in the body, and it is less sweet but stronger in taste. The usual yellow chrysanthemum (野黄菊) which yields slight bitterness aftertaste, is also fine to use. Generally, all types are good and beneficial to be consumed, but my personal preference is the small ‘Gongju’, which deemed the best suitable for making jellies.

How about the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup? Real Swiftlet’s Spit Soup used? Yes, I used the instant Guan Yan Zhan (官燕栈) Swiftlet’s Spit Soup from Lo Hong Ka for my daily consumption ever since into second trimester of my pregnancy. Alternatively, use the bottled Swiftlet’s Spit Soup (in heavily sweetened liquid). If this is the case, I would suggest an alternate type of konnyaku jelly power which is unsweetened so that you could use the whole bottle of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup together with its sweetened liquid.
Or, simply don’t use the konnyaku powder! Make your own jelly with the traditional agar-agar (seaweed) strips (菜燕条) or gelatin sheets (or powder form). Simply dissolve your desired gelling agent, and add sugar (together with the sweetened Swiftlet’s Spit Soup liquid) into the boiled (and strained) chrysanthemum water (Alright, I will show you the exact steps next time). This is just an idea to share with you… Otherwise, forget the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup for this time round as it might be too much effort for the meant-to-be simple dessert making. :)
Anyway, Matthew (one of the fans from my FB fan club wrote on my wall) was right. This sounds like a perfect summer snack (smile)!

Serves 40 Jellies

Ingredients

250g Konnyaku jelly power premix (without flavouring/ colouring), store-bought
30 dried chrysanthemum flowers, briefly rinsed
1-2 tablespoons of wolfberries, rinsed and placed in a small disposable tea bag
2-3 tablespoons of instant Swiftlet’s Spit Soup (Any brand)
1250ml of water

Method

1) Boil water in a large pot over high heat. When boiled, add chrysanthemum and wolfberries and use a spatula to gently mix it. Bring the ingredients to a boil again before heat off. Thereafter, cover pot with lid to let it stand for another 10 minutes in order to let flavour released even greater.
2) Use a clean strainer to filter the flower petals and also remove the wolfberries bag from the pot (keep the wolfberries for use later). Retain the chrysanthemum water in the pot and reheat on low fire. Now, add Konnyaku jelly mix gradually. Keep stirring the mixture while simmering for about 5 minutes. Heat off and wait for the bubbles to dissipate.
3) Remove the wolfberries from the tea bag and split them equally among the jelly moulds. Pour the boiled jelly mixture into moulds and leave it to cool at room temperature for 3 minutes. Then, add in the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup. Let it cool for another 5-10 minutes before chilling it in the refrigerator. Ready to serve.
Alternative way to make this jelly:**Add gelatin sheets/ powder to firm (directions on the right amount to use should be stated on its packaging), and sugar to taste, into the boiled chrysanthemum water, instead of konnyaku jelly powder premix.
1 jelly counts less than 10kcal.
Tips: It’s ok to leave out a little bit of these edible chrysanthemum petals in the pot. These tiny petals will only make your jellies looked even nicer, and its insignificant amount won’t affect the taste and mouthfeel of the jelly. If you really mind eating even a single petal, use a large disposable tea/ soup bag to boil the chrysanthemum, then.
* Some konnyaku jelly brands come with flavour/ colour. Don’t use the flavoured konnyaku jelly powder. Original pre-mix powder is the best as the chrysanthemum tea will yield natural yellowish colour in the jelly which looks very nice and natural.
* Do not discard the chrysanthemum just after one time boil for the jelly making. Simmer the same chrysanthemum again in a pot of hot boiled water (for 1 minute then cover pot with lid to let it stand for another 5 minutes) for the second time and to be drank as tea.

Swiftlet’s Spit Soup Pineapple Cakes (燕窝黄梨酥)

“Swiftlet’s Spit Soup incorporated into pineapple paste filling, just feeling luscious this Lunar festival.”

Making these into cake blocks in order to stuff in more Swiftlet’s Spit Soup into its pineapple filling. The chunks of pineapple cake would look more generous this way.
Same pineapple filling recipe I had previously, or even store-bought readymade kind of pineapple paste will do the job. Only the crust was made with slight difference this time.

Swiftlet’s Spit Soup Pineapple Cakes (燕窝黄梨酥)

Ingredients

400g plain flour
2 tablespoons of milk powder
4 tablespoons of icing sugar
1/2 teaspoon of salt
250g of cold unsalted butter, cubed
3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
4 tablespoons of cold water
10g of dried Swiftlet’s Spit Soup pieces (燕窝碎)
1 thumb-sized rick sugar
400g pineapple paste filling
Egg wash (Optional):
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon of evaporated milk

Method

(1) Swiftlet’s Spit Soup: Soak Swiftlet’s Spit Soup in filtered (or room temperature drinking) water in a glass bowl, for 30 minutes. Drain until just about 1 tablespoon of water remains. Place rock sugar on the soaked Swiftlet’s Spit Soup. Steam for 1 hour, or until Swiftlet’s Spit Soup expanded and softened till jelly-like consistency. Cool, drain away excessive liquid, and set aside.
(2) Mix Swiftlet’s Spit Soup into pineapple paste. Then, divide Swiftlet’s Spit Soup pineapple paste into small balls of about size of 20cents. Set aside.
(3) Crust: Combine plain flour, milk powder, icing sugar and salt. Sieve into a large mixing bowl. Rub butter cubes onto the flour mixture with your finger tips, until all butter cubes are used up and flour mixture turns sand-like crumbs. Mix in cold water to form dough. Simply gather the crumbs and form into dough will do. Do not need extra kneading.
(4) Place crumbly dough on a large sheet of cling wrap. Wrap it and store in the fridge for 30 minutes. Bring out to cool a little, oil your palm, and start dividing the dough to make crust.
(5) Flatten each part of dough by kneading it, or lay a sheet of cling wrap on the dough and use rolling pin to roll over to flatten it. Place a ball of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup pineapple in the middle of the dough, wrap around and seal the opening. Place it into your desired mould design to form shapes, arrange each pineapple cake dough onto lined baking tray. Repeat steps for the rest.
(6) Bake on preheated oven at 160deg Celsius, for about 10 minutes. Combine egg yolk and milk. Brush thin layer of egg wash on the surface of the almost baked pineapple cakes, continue baking for another 2 minutes. Leave cakes to cool on rack before storage, or serve.

Each pineapple cake counts about 100kcal.

Tips: Swiftlet’s Spit Soup, as we only need it in the mixing, use those types in loose strips, corner or broken pieces which priced cheaper than those in whole complete piece. Broken pieces Swiftlet’s Spit Soup costs about $45 for 37.5g of a decent grade.
* If the chilled dough is too crumbly to be kneaded, leave it for a while, or add a little bit of oil either on your palms or onto the dough and it will be softened after some kneading done.
* Line baking tray with parchment paper. Need not to grease the tray.
* It’s ok if you want to use just normal fresh milk for the egg wash.
* In fact, you may omit the egg wash, if desired. Pineapple cakes do not really require egg wash. :)

All about Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

Introduction

Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is made of solidified saliva from an Swiftlet’s Spit Soup.
Swallow bird’ nest is only in Southeast Asian Countries, with the highest capacity in Indonesia, but Swiftlet’s Spit Soup in Vietnam has the best taste. Swiftlet’s Spit Soup in Vietnam is voted The King Swiftlet’s Spit Soup by the consumers in the world (According to documents from World Wide Fun for Nature –WWF and Cites)
Swiftlet’s Spit Soup can help to clean lung and respiratory organs, reduce flu and allergic symtomps, increase weight, balance the substance exchange process in our bodies, recover injured cells, anti-aging process, lengthen life…

Swiftlet’s Spit Soup benefits

Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is sweet, cool and good for two vasovagals. It helps to reduce sputum, tuberculosis, fever, asthma, haematemesis, stomach-ache. To sick people, post-pregnancy women, weak children, weakening elderly people… Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is considered the fairy medicine.

Components of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

According to researches of scientists in the world, Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is one of high value food, with the components in Swiftlet’s Spit Soup as follows:
Protein: 50 – 52% (high protein but 0% of lipid)
Hexozamin: 12.5%
Galactoza: 5.3%
Galactozamin: 8.6%
Glucozamin: 7.2%
Hexoza: 16.9%
Fucoza: 0.7%
Acid sialic: 8.6%, helps to excite the cells’ growth. Some necessary mineral substances for the body:
Cu (5,87%)
Fe (27,9%)
Zn (1,88%)
…
Notes: Protein in fish, meat, egg, bean …just contains 12.8 – 34.8%

Some necessary acid amin for the body:

• Glycine: 1.99% – good for skin
• Valine: 4.12% – recover injuries and re-create new cells
• Leucine: 4.56% – adjust sugar level in blood
• Isoleucine: 2.04% – recover health
• Threonine: 2.69% – improve immune system and helps the body absorb nutrients
• Methionine: 0.46% – helps to grow cells
• Proline: 5.27% – enhance to recover muscle, tissue and skin
• Acid aspartic: 4.69% – helps to grow cells
• Phenylalanine: 4.50% – good for brain, increase memory
• Histidine: 2.09% – helps body grow and increase the connection between tissue and muscle
• Lysine: 1.75% – increase the ability to absorb Ca, helps bones stronger, anti spinal degeneration.

Besides, Swiftlet’s Spit Soup also has Tryptophan: 0.7% helps to prevent cancer and L-arginine: 11,4% helps to improve sex very well. In Swiftlet’s Spit Soup, there are 16 multi microelements like: Fe, Al, Si, Zn, Mg, …with fairly high level. These elements are very important for blood creation, mental activities (Mg), activation effect for nutrients exchange enzymes, development of genital organs (Zn).
Above-mentioned substances in Blood nest (Red nest) always have higer level than in White Swiftlet’s Spit Soup.
People found that there was DNA synthetic excitation substance for a variety of biologic cells. Empiric researches at National centre for Natural science and technology in Hanoi reveal that Swiftlet’s Spit Soup doesn’t gain weight rapidly but clearly enhance muscles’ strength. It’s also a miraculous antidote and anti radiation.

Notice of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup usage

Swiftlet’s Spit Soup has been considered a nutritious and precious dish. However, in the processing progress, you could unintentionally lose some nutrition, or you could use wrong methods that make our bodies couldn’t absorb all nutrition of the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup. Therefore, we have some notices for you as follows:

How To Clean The Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

When defeathering Swiftlet’s Spit Soup, don’t dip Swiftlet’s Spit Soup into hot water because it will be dissolved and lost some substances.
Don’t use any chemicals to clean the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup but clean water. Some people use wine, cooking oil to clean it. It is unnecessary because some substances or taste will be lost. Clean water is enough.
Don’t dip Swiftlet’s Spit Soup in water too long (about less than 4 hours). Pick it up when it’s soft.

Notice of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup usage

How To Preserve The Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

If you don’t use Swiftlet’s Spit Soup after cleaning, wring it dry then put it into the cool drawer of the fridge. You can keep it in the fridge within a week. If you want to save it longer, dry Swiftlet’s Spit Soup completely by the fan (don’t dry it in the sun), then put it into a box and keep it in dry place.
It is a nutritious food but it’s not a fairy medicine.
Therefore, don’t keep it for years. Although it can be kept for years if being kept in dry place, it can be lost substances if you keep it too long. Don’t eat mouldy Swiftlet’s Spit Soup.

How To Use Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

When you should eat Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is also important. Although there is not any official research, people think that eating Swiftlet’s Spit Soup before going to bed is the best. Because after sleeping one hour, human’s hormone is very high and if there is any substance from food at that point, it’s really good for us.
You should eatSwiftlet’s Spit Soup regularly to keep healthy. You should eat a small amount of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup everyday or in some certain days a week instead of eating a large amount sometimes.
The best way to cook Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is to steam. All substances of Swiftlet’s Spit Soup will be kept. Whichever dishes you cook, you should steam Swiftlet’s Spit Soup separately, then mix it into dishes.

Bizarre Bites: Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

Every once in a while I stumble upon a food and think, “What sick mind came up with this idea in the first place?” Swiftlet’s Spit Soup falls into that category. I’d like to meet whoever first decided to soak a Swiftlet’s Spit Soup in water overnight, then pick feathers and feces out of the nest, add it to a bowl of chicken broth, onions, sherry, and egg white, and then start eating. C’mon, that’s insane.

Spit Soup

The soup’s flavor depends largely on the geographic region of the nest. I love nests harvested near the ocean. They offer a sea-salty, briny flavor (the birds eat primarily saltwater fish, the nests are full of their saliva, spewdom, and droppings. It only makes sense that the nests would taste of the sea!). Some chefs like to play up the salty flavor (and sometimes slimi- ness) of the soup. I’m cool with that. To me, it just tastes like Mom’s chicken soup—seasoned with bird spit and lots of slimy chunks.
However, the Chinese (as well as some Taiwanese and Indonesians) have enjoyed this gelatinous, soupy delicacy for hundreds if not over a thousand years. The soup isn’t made from any old nest. The soup calls for the nest of a bird called the swiftlet or cave swift. These birds produce special nests found not in trees but in caves throughout southern Asia, the south Pacific islands, and northeastern Australia.
As you can imagine, it’s not easy to attach a nest to a cave wall. These industrious birds use a mixture of seaweed, twigs, moss, hair, and feathers to fashion the nest. The truly bizarre secret ingredient: saliva. Male birds gorge themselves on seaweed, which causes them to salivate like a Labradoodle at a picnic. Saliva threads, which contain a bonding protein called mucilage, spew out of the bird’s mouth. Once dry, the saliva acts as cement. The crafty avian will continue to build on to the nest until it can support the weight of its bird family. The process usually takes about forty-five days.

Swiftlet Factoids

The birds live in southern Asia, the south Pacific islands, and northeastern Australia.
Swiftlets have four toes and short legs, so they cannot perch, but they can cling to vertical surfaces like the side of a cave or their nests.
A swiftlet’s diet is made up of insects and more insects, with insects for dessert.
Swiftlets mate for life, and both the male and female take care of the babies.
Swiftlets typically lay one to two eggs.

Saliva Facts

Saliva is 98 percent water. The other 2 percent is made up of electrolytes, mucus, antibacterial compounds, and various enzymes.
Saliva is used in the first part of digestion. It moistens food and starts to break it down with its enzymes. It also helps to create a food bolus to help us swallow. Our mouths, with the help of saliva, roll our chewed food into a ball, so the food goes down the esophagus and not the trachea.
When you have to vomit, there is a signal sent to your brain and you create extra saliva. This makes the vomit less acidic, protecting your throat, mouth, and teeth from burning and decay.
The average person makes 700 milliliters of saliva per day. That’s the equivalent to more than two cans of soda.
Your spit production slows down when you sleep.
The mouth is the most unsanitary part of your body. It houses about 10 billion bacteria.
Saliva rinses the mouth to reduce the bacteria amount, but at night when its production slows down, there is very little cleaning being done. That’s why we often wake up with bad breath. We smell all of the bacteria that have built up overnight. It’s mouth B.O.