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What is bird�s nest soup?
Bird�s nest soup has been an Asian culinary tradition for centuries. Made from the nests of edible-nest swiftlets�usually Aerodramus fuciphagus (formerly Collocalia fuciphaga) or Aerodramus maximus (formerly Collocalia maxima)�it can be either savory or sweet. Savory soup is made with chicken broth and contains pieces of nest, bits of chicken breast, mushrooms, quail eggs, and sometimes ham. Sweet bird�s nest soup is a simple recipe using nest, rock sugar, and water.
Edible birds� nests have a rubbery texture and don�t appeal to many palates; however, they are thought to be very nutritious and to have aphrodisiac properties. Nutritional analysis reveals a high protein content and variable amounts of minerals.
Edible nests Edible-nest swiftlets nest communally in caves, building nests high above the ground. During nest building, the birds� salivary glands become enlarged and produce thick ropey sticky saliva that hardens quickly when exposed to air. Over a period of weeks, swiftlets gradually construct a cup-shaped nest about the size of a human ear. Nests may be white, golden, black, or red: white nests are very clean and contain nothing but saliva; black nests contain plant parts and feathers; red are believed to contain blood from the birds� salivary glands, but the colour may actually come from insects that they have eaten, or minerals leaching from the cave wall.

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Bird Nest Soup Asian Delicacy