how to differentiate bird nest quality

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For more than a thousand years, edible bird’s nests have been considered a luxurious delicacy in China and other parts of Asia. Usually made from the nests of swiftlets, a specie of bird native to Southeast Asia, genuine bird’s nests are a superfood filled with supplementary benefits. For instance, for pregnant women, consuming bird’s nest products can help improve the condition of their skin, prevent iron deficiency, and strengthen their baby’s bones and muscles.

However, in order to make sure that you get the full benefits of a bird’s nest, it is necessary that you purchase only an authentic one. Fake bird’s nests are currently sold everywhere. In this article, you will learn the most effective way to tell authentic bird’s nests apart from fake ones.

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In China and other Asian countries, edible bird’s nests have been prized as a luxurious delicacy for over a millennium. Typically derived from the nests of swiftlets, a native bird species of Southeast Asia, authentic bird’s nests are a superfood with additional advantages. For example, eating products made from bird’s nest can help pregnant women’s skin condition, prevent iron deficiency, and strengthen the bones and muscles of their unborn child.

However, you must only buy genuine bird’s nests if you want to ensure that you benefit fully from them. Fake bird’s nests are currently sold everywhere. This article will teach you the best method for differentiating real bird nests from imitations.

The Difference Between Real and Fake Bird’s Nests

1. Appearance and shape

Real bird’s nests typically come in triangles, strips, cakes, or cups, depending on the quality. Occasionally, you might also find tiny feathers lodged in the fibers of the nest. Real bird’s nests gradually lose their shape and more noticeable nest fibers emerge when they are submerged in water. Fake bird’s nests are typically more uniformly shaped and have a slightly stronger smell than real ones.

2. Colour

Examining the color that emerges after you soak them is a great method to tell real nests from fake ones. Clear water will be left behind if it is indeed a genuine bird’s nest. The nest itself will also keep its colour. However, due to artificial coloring, a fake bird’s nest will exhibit signs of discoloration. To confirm its authenticity, if you bought the more expensive type of bird’s nests, such as blood nest, make sure its color stays brightly red even after soaking.

3. Texture and transparency

Real bird’s nests will have an uneven structure when examined closely. In contrast, the nest fibers in a fake bird’s nest will be more neatly arranged and coarsely distributed. In terms of transparency, a real bird’s nest will appear semi-transparent, while a fake one will either be non-transparent or reflective. Unwanted chemicals are the cause of fake bird’s nests’ reflective quality.

The Difference Between Fake Bird’s Nests and Real Bird’s Nests

Fake Birds Nests: How to Tell If Your Birds Nest Soup is Authentic An authentic bird nest will come in the shapes of cups, triangles, strips or cakes depending on quality (cups being the highest grade). One will also occasionally find small feathers stuck within the fibers. When soaked in water, authentic bird nests will gradually lose its shape along with the appearance of more pronounced nest fibers. In comparison, fake bird nests will have a relatively uniform, bumpy surface with a slight, medicinal smell.

Fake Birds Nests: How to Tell If Your Birds Nest Soup is Authentic A great way to tell fake nests from authentic bird nests is the color that appears after soaking. The water left over from a real edible bird nest will be clear. The nest itself will also maintain its color. However, a fake bird nest will show signs of discoloration due to the artificial coloring. One of the more highly prized edible bird nest varieties is the blood nest, a color that’s been falsely attributed to the result of blood being in swiftlet saliva. For this special bird nest, pay attention to the color after the soaking process. An authentic blood bird nest should still be vibrantly red whereas the fake version will stain the water.

When examined closely, real bird nests will show structural irregularities. In contrast, the nest fibers in a fake bird nest will be more evenly spaced and more tidier.

In contrast to a fake bird nest, which can be nontransparent or even reflective in certain situations, an authentic bird nest will appear semi-transparent. Unwanted chemicals are the cause of the reflective nature of faux edible bird nests.

FAQ

How can you tell the quality of a bird nest?

The biological make-up of a real bird’s nest is such that, when you crumble it between your fingers, the nest breaks down into a powder like substance. Man-made, chemical-based bird’s nests are fragile just like the real version, but, when you try to crumble a fake between your fingers, it breaks off into big chunks.

How can you tell if a bird’s nest is real or fake?

The Soak Test First, pay attention to the shape of the bird nest before soaking. Fake nests are more uniform, while a real bird’s nest will transform into a gelatinous, formless shape after about 30 minutes. The fibers of the nest will also still be visible, but not nearly as uniform as when dry.

How do I know what kind of bird nest I have?

If you can see the eggs in the nest, this can really help you clinch your nest identification. Look at the size, shape, and color of the eggs. Count how many you see in the clutch (the number of eggs that a bird lays at one time.)