How To Prepare Blood Bird Nest

A bowl of Blood Bird Nest is a prized Chinese delicacy. Blood Bird Nests are expensive due to the difficulty in harvesting and the many benefits it brings. Blood Bird Nest does wonders for the skin, throat and lungs, as well as boosting overall health and well-being.

Lots of Asian celebrities consume this daily to look beautiful! When cooked, the Blood Bird Nest takes on a gelatin texture, making it a lovely tong shui (“sweet soup”; Chinese dessert). The highly recommended way to enjoy Blood Bird Nest, is just with water and rock sugar. Check out the recipe below to make that homely bowl of double-boiled Blood Bird Nest.

Information:

Serves: 1
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

1 piece  Blood Bird Nest
1 bowl of water
A handful of rock sugar to taste
3 pieces red dates (optional)
2 pieces dried longan (optional)
5 pieces wolfberries (optional)
3 pieces American Ginseng Slices (optional)

Directions

Soak Blood Bird Nest in a bowl of water overnight (8-10 hours) until expanded and softened.
Pluck out any feathers or debris using kitchen tweezers. Rinse and drain. To prevent wastage, run soaking water through a fine sieve to catch the small bits of Blood Bird Nest.
Add soaked Blood Bird Nest, 1 rice bowl of water, and any another optional ingredients in a small bowl and cover with lid.
Place small bowl inside a larger pot and make sure the water in the larger pot starts to boil. Once it starts boiling, close the lid for the small bowl and let it boil for 15 minutes. When the Blood Bird Nest is cooked to desired texture, stir in rock sugar to taste and cover for about 5 minutes to allow the sugar to dissolve fully. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

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TIPS

1. Rather than weighing the Blood Bird Nest, go by pieces per person. For one person, use 1 piece of Blood Bird Nest. This equates to about 8-10 grams per person. We use 1 rice bowl of water per person.
2. Although red dates are a common addition in Blood Bird Nest, we wouldn't recommend using it. According to our own experience, the cheap red dates will act like a sponge which absorb the goodness of the Blood Bird Nest (though it’s not so bad if you eat the red dates).
3. We highly recommend to enjoy Blood Bird Nest in the purest way – just Blood Bird Nest, water and rock sugar. You may also add American ginseng slices. If you find ginseng bitter or intend to consume at night (it improves alertness/提神), omit it.
4. Don’t fuss over prepping the Blood Bird Nest, because our Blood Bird Nest usually very clean. Simply soak the Blood Bird Nest pieces in water overnight until fully expanded and softened, but not so long that the Blood Bird Nest disintegrates into small bits. If there are any impurities such as debris and feathers (which is very normal, as it proves that it is 100% authentic Blood Bird Nest), pluck them out using a kitchen tweezer, drain, and they are ready for cooking.
5. Avoid boiling Blood Bird Nest for too long. Boiling them for too long will remove the solid chunks in the Blood Bird Nest, and cause it to become very watery. It will also remove all the proteins and good nutrients inside the Blood Bird Nest. The older folks especially dislike it when the stewed Blood Bird Nest do not have solid chunks after cooking (i.e. very watery). We highly recommend boiling them for 15 minutes max.
6. For best results, use the traditional way of double-boiling instead of an electronic double-boiler slow cooker. However, an electronic slow cooker is an alternative, subjected to personal preference.
7. It is said that Blood Bird Nest is best consumed at room temperature, or chilled, on an empty stomach (such as just before bed, or when you wake up in the morning). For maximum absorption, do not eat “heaty” snacks or medication a few hours before and after drinking Blood Bird Nest.

10 Things To Know About Blood Bird Nest, The Magic Skin Food Singaporeans Are Crazy About

It’s probably one of those things you only heard about after moving to Singapore. We uncover some interesting points about Blood Bird Nest.

 Would you eat bird spit?

1. Blood Bird Nest is made by swiftlets using solidified glutinous saliva, which are then harvested for consumption. This unique delicacy is a popular tonic in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
2. This ancient Chinese tradition dates back to about 400 years ago and it is believed to have many health benefits, such as boosting a weak immune system, speeding up recovery from illnesses, relieving asthma, improving digestion, aiding bowel movement, and so on.
3. It is also believed to enhance beauty by improving your complexion, as it is said to have the elements to repair skin and tissue.
4. They say it is best to eat Blood Bird Nest on an empty stomach or before meals to allow the body to fully absorb its nutrients.
5. This highly-valued product is not cheap, and the size and shape of Blood Bird Nest are the key factors to determine its price. It can cost up to $788 for 37.6 gram Blood Bird Nests, depending on its grade.
6. They make popular gifts, especially during Lunar New Year, as they symbolise wishing good health upon the receiver.
8. Counterfeit Blood Bird Nest exists. Find out how to identify the real deal here.
9. Blood Bird Nest is traditionally served as soup, but many people are changing the game and including it as an ingredient in various dishes. For example, here’s a recipe to make Blood Bird Nest strawberry cream cheese mochi.
10. Did you know there is a Blood Bird Nest museum in Kranji?
The Swiftlet Garden Museum offers guided tour to learn more about swiftlets, discover the history of Blood Bird Nest and the processing techniques to generate this gem.

Natural Remedies to Lighten the Skin Tone

When we choose the product to lighten the skin tone, we have to carefully inspect the ingredients to make sure there is no dangerous chemicals for the skin. If it is hard to trust most skincare products available in the market, one of the easy and practical ways to take care of and lighten the skin tone is to make natural remedies at home.
Aloe gel and lemon
Mix the aloe vera gel with two to three drops of lemon juice. Apply the mask on the face and neck, then massage lightly. Let it dry for 15-20 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Put dry your skin and use moisturizer. Preserve the remaining mask in the refrigerator to use on the following day. If you experience irritation, avoid using more lemon. If you don’t have lemons, try to use limes or grapefruit.
Lemon and turmeric
Mix one teaspoon each for lemon juice and turmeric powder. Apply to the skin and leave it for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
Aloe gel and honey
Mix one tablespoon of aloe vera gel and one tablespoon of honey in the bowl. Stir well with spoon and apply the mask on the face, except the irritated area. Leave it for 20 minutes before rinsing with warm water.
Tomato and avocado
Mix tomato and small avocado pulp, with 1:1 comparison. Apply to the skin and let it sit for 30-45 minutes. Rinse with warm water and repeat regularly for best results.
Cucumber and honey
Mix grated cucumber and honey, stir well until you get the desired consistency. You can also add the lemon juice or yogurt. Apply the mask to the skin and leave it for 15-30 minutes before rinsing with cold water. You can repeat twice daily for best results.
After all, the most important thing is to have a natural beauty from within. This can be achieved from good eating habit and natural food, such as Blood Bird Nest. Blood Bird Nest is known to be rich in antioxidant, protein, amino acids, collagen, and other nutrients and minerals. These substances are scientifically proven to help to regenerate skin cells, enhance the skin tone, repair the tissue and moisturize the skin to become brighter and smoother. If consumed regularly, Blood Bird Nest can eventually help to prevent premature aging for women, boost the youthful and smooth complexion as well as the healthier skin tone and more radiant glo