The edible swallow’s nest which costs up to 8,000 euros per kilo. Origin, harvest and secrets of the famous “caviar of the East”
Can a bird’s nest be considered one of the most expensive delicacies in the worldlike saffron or beluga caviar? The answer is yes; indeed, one of the names by which the swallow’s nest“the caviar of the East”, explains very well how elite this dish is considered.
What is swallow’s nest (and where is it known)
The swallow’s nest is not just any nest. Unlike those we are used to seeing on the eaves of houses, made of mud and twigs, this one is composed almost exclusively of saliva.
It is produced by small birds belonging to the genus Collocalia (commonly called salangane or swifts), widespread in South-East Asia, particularly in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. The species most famous for its nests is Collocalia fuciphaga (or Aerodramus fuciphagus).
During the breeding season, these swifts they secrete a gummy substance from the salivary glands which, in contact with the air, hardens and is shaped into a cup shape, creating a resistant and translucent nest.
This food is deeply rooted in gastronomic culture and traditional Chinese medicine, where the swallow’s nest soup it is considered a luxury dish, served on special occasions and believed to be capable of bringing almost miraculous benefits.
Its reputation is such that the nickname “caviar of the East” is not at all exaggerated, representing a status symbol and a gift of great prestige in many Asian communities.
The difficult collection
If the nest is precious, its collection is equally so. Most swallow’s nests today come from the so-called swiftlet housespurpose-built buildings in cities or countryside that mimic the dark, humid microclimate of caves to attract birds.
Part of the “harvest” of these nests (the most exclusive) is made in inaccessible places, such as limestone caves dark and humid, often located on islands or cliffs overlooking the sea, such as the famous Gomantong caves in Borneo or those along the southern coast of Thailand.
Inside these cavities, the foragers climb up fragile bamboo and rattan scaffoldingor on rope ladders, to reach the nests attached to the walls and ceiling, tens of meters high.
Work is purely seasonal (from February to April and from July to September) and requires agility, courage and a good dose of recklessness, given that many collectors do not use any safety system.
The working conditions are also extreme, given that they work in the dark, with a lantern or torch, and the nests (no bigger than the palm of a hand) must be carefully removed from the rock.
Price and benefits
The cost of this ingredient is legendary. While the “white” nests can reach prices that vary from 1,000 to 3,000 euros per kilothe rarest nests, that is, those “red”reach much higher figures.
These red nests are in fact the result of the absorption of minerals (especially iron) present on the rocky walls of the cave in which the nest is built. These extremely rare red nests can exceed 7,000-8,000 euros per kilomaking them one of the most expensive foods in the world.
But what justifies such a price? The answer is rooted in traditional Chinese medicinewhich attributes to swallow’s nest tonic, restorative and beneficial properties for the skin and the immune system.
Modern science has partly identified the components that could explain these effects. The nest is full of glycoproteins, amino acids and above all sialic acida molecule associated with brain development and immune function.
Be careful though, because if on the one hand its nutritional value is undeniable, on the other solid clinical evidence is lacking that demonstrate “miraculous” effects in humans such as the cure of diseases or real rejuvenation.
What remains is a dish with a gelatinous consistency and an extremely delicate, almost neutral flavour. For this reason, the nest is almost always served in soupwhere it acts as a base to absorb the flavors of stronger ingredients.
Even a bird’s nest can therefore become a haute cuisine dish, capable of combining millenary tradition, extreme rarity and an aura of legend.
