Essential Things to know about Blood Bird Nest

Blood Bird Nest is highly coveted in the Asian culture due to its rarity and exquisite flavor. Often referred to as the “caviar of the East”, Blood Bird Nest is among the most expensive delicacies consumed by humans for over 400 years. Blood Bird Nest is considered a super-food due to their high content of protein and essential amino acids while low in calories and fat. How to prepare/cook a nutritiously delicious bowl of Blood Bird Nest without accidentally depleting important nutrients?

1. How to clean Blood Bird Nest

- When removing the feathers and debris from Blood Bird Nest, do NOT soak in hot water, as hot water will start breaking down the proteins and amino acids in the Blood Bird Nest, hence depleting the nutrients from it.
- Do not use any substance. Many people use alcohol and other chemicals. This is not necessary. In addition, depend on the chemical used, it could either deplete Blood Bird Nest of nutrients and/or ruin its delicate taste. Clean COLD water is best for soaking and cleaning Blood Bird Nest.
- Soaking time should not be too long, preferably under 4 hours or until Blood Bird Nest is soft

Essential Things to know about Blood Bird Nest

2. How to store Blood Bird Nest

If not cooked immediately after cleaning, squeeze dry, place in a clean container with a lid and refrigerate. Blood Bird Nest will stay fresh for about 1 week. If you need to store Blood Bird Nest for longer period, then air dry with a fan, avoid exposure to sunlight, and store in an air tight container in a dry place at room temperature.
Even though Blood Bird Nest is very nutritious, it is not a miracle drug and does NOT stay fresh forever. Unlike wine or cheese, Blood Bird Nest does NOT get better with age. Dried Blood Bird Nest is good for a few years under the proper storage conditions, however, like everything else, Blood Bird Nest starts breaking down if you wait too long. It will be less nutritious and delicious if stored for a long time. Hence, you should use it as soon as possible. It is better to use a little everyday and regularly rather than large amounts sporadically. Do NOT eat expired/spoiled/moldy Blood Bird Nest!

3. Best time to consume Blood Bird Nest

Even though there has not been any scientific studies regarding the optimal time to consume Blood Bird Nest, many people believe that the best time to eat Blood Bird Nest is in the evening before bedtime. This is because the concentration of growth hormone is peaked within 1 hour of falling asleep. Thus, the body can make the most effective use of nutrients such as proteins, amino acids and minerals during this time for development.
In addition, Blood Bird Nest is considered as a tonic. Ideally, it should be consumed before meals to allow the body to better absorb its nutrients. As mentioned earlier, it is better to use a little everyday and regularly rather than large amounts sporadically.

4. Who can use Blood Bird Nest

Blood Bird Nest is a good supplement for growing children. From a biological standpoint, Blood Bird Nest contains proteins, amino acids and minerals that are essential for healthy development. It can help boost the body’s immune system and increase resistance to external environmental factors.
It is recommended that seniors use Blood Bird Nest to mainta​in and enhance their health. Blood Bird Nest can be used to stimulate the appetite, improve digestion and stimulate bowel movement.
Pregnant women in their first trimester and infants should NOT use Blood Bird Nest. ***Blood Bird Nest may cause allergic reactions in certain individuals, do exercise caution when consuming for the first time.*** Also, according to traditional eastern medicine, Blood Bird Nest is contraindicated for people with obesity, cold extremeties, gout and irritable bowel syndrome.

Blood Bird Nest and Nitrite: What is it?

The issue of Blood Bird Nests containing harmful substances such as nitrite has raised concerns amongst many people, especially pregnant mothers who eat them regularly during their pregnancy stage.

Blood Bird Nest And Nitrite

In 2011, surveillance conducted by China authorities found that high levels of nitrite was present in various Blood Bird Nests, in particular, the blood-red Blood Bird Nest. Nitrite occurs in the environment, in food and water, and is produced inside living organisms. It can be used as food additive, mainly as a preservative and colour fixative in foods such as cheese products as well as cured and fermented meats.
Red Blood Bird Nest is reported in recent news stories to contain nitrite, which may pose threats to the health of consumers. This post serves to educate our consumers and give them a better understanding about nitrite, and to remind them to exercise cautions when purchasing any other Blood Bird Nest apart from our own.

Why is nitrite added to red Blood Bird Nest?

Nitrite found in red Blood Bird Nest may either be formed naturally, or by the result of an attempt by merchants to turn white Blood Bird Nest into red Blood Bird Nest (which can fetch an insane high price in the market), by adding a large amount of nitrite during processing.
As nitrite can be dissolved in water and red Blood Bird Nest will be washed, soaked and stewed for an extended period of time in most cases, the level of nitrite is lowered as a result.

What is a "nitrite"?

Nitrite is converted from nitrate, which is part of the natural nitrogen cycle and is found in air, soil, water and food - nitrate may also be produced in vivo. Nitrite is often used as a food additive for preservation, coloring purposes and the prevention of bacterial growth.
However, it is toxic and will be converted into cancer-causing agents such as Carcinogenic Nitroso Compounds under certain conditions. Long-term consumption of food containing excessive amounts of nitrite will increase the chance of cancer.
According to the National Standards of the People’s Republic of China, the use of nitrite is only allowed in processed foods such as salted bacon. Nitrite will not pose serious threats to human health if it is used in accordance with the standards.

What should i do?

It should be noted that nitrite can only be harmful if consumption exceeds standard levels for our bodies. Excessive amounts can decrease the ability of red blood cells to transfer oxygen throughout our body.
Moreover, it can react with our stomach juices to form nitrosamines which are potentially carcinogenic. It is known that babies who consume nitrite-contaminated water will result in developing a serious health condition called methemoglobinemia, which is also known as ‘blue baby syndrome’.
With these rising concerns, consumers are naturally more discerning when it comes to selecting Blood Bird Nests. As mentioned, nitrite is inherently present in Blood Bird Nest due to natural biological processes. However, it is possible to achieve negligible levels of nitrite in Blood Bird Nest through proper switflet nest farming techniques and comprehensive cleaning during the processing of the Blood Bird Nest.

How to differentiate real from fake?

Due to its unique nutritional structure, red natural Blood Bird Nest may release red substances when it is soaked in the water. If the water in which the red Blood Bird Nest is soaked turns from colorless to dark red, and many unwanted chemicals (white and milky) appears in the water, it is highly likely that the product has been dyed. In this case, consumers are advised to stop purchasing or consuming such products.

Where do i purchase genuine Blood Bird Nest that is safe for consumption?

Purchase your Blood Bird Nest from a reliable and trusted brand. Xin Yan Blood Bird Nest™ is a fully integrated Blood Bird Nest producer – from the construction, maintenance and harvesting of farms right through to the processing of the nests as well as packaging, sales and distribution. We are committed to our promise of producing 100% pure Blood Bird Nest without the use of any chemicals, bleaching agents, preservatives, or colouring.
Furthermore, we send our Blood Bird Nest to AVA regularly to ensure that all our Blood Bird Nest sold are in line with the strict food regulations set in Singapore, and are safe to consume. This ensures that the Blood Bird Nest you enjoy is of the highest quality and hygiene. As a way to reassure our consumers, we do provide our AVA lab test report for viewing upon request.

What is the proper way to prepare Blood Bird Nest?

Studies have shown that thoroughly washing and soaking Blood Bird Nest overnight (8~10 hours) can remove a substantial quantity of nitrite in Blood Bird Nest (since nitrite is water-soluble). Water used for soaking Blood Bird Nests should also be replaced once or twice during the soaking process.