Edible swiftlet nest

The nests of two species of echo-locating swiftlets are edible and are used in Chinese birds nest soup. Chinese tradition is that these nest have miraculous holistic health and aphrodisiac benefits. There is no scientific proof that the nests have any recognized pharmacologically active ingredients. The nests of the Black-nest swiftlet (Aerodramus maximus) are worth about 20% of the more valuable white nests built by two other species. Black nests are made of saliva mixed with feathers and plant material, and only the white saliva part is edible.

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