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For over 1,000 years, edible bird’s nests have been enjoyed as a delicacy in China. Made from swiftlet nests, a bird species native to Southeast Asia, authentic bird nests are a superfood packed with health benefits. Edible bird nests are primarily made into soups or drinks with a variety of tasty flavors. It is unfortunate that because of these benefits and niche quality, the edible bird’s nest market is also overrun with fake producers looking to cash in –– one pound of bird’s nests can sell for more than $4,000 per pound. This profit margin combined with increased global interest in edible bird nests has created a perfect storm for fake bird nests. So, how should customers navigate this fraught subject? How do you know if a bird's nest is real? And how does one avoid buying fake bird nests? As experts in the edible bird nest industry, CM Nest is here to help. To assist, we’ve put together a list of things you’ll want to check to determine the real deal from the fraud. The Difference Between Fake Bird’s Nests and Real Bird’s Nests Shape and Appearance 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. Color 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. Texture Under close inspection, authentic bird nests will have an uneven structure. By comparison, a fake bird nest will have neater and more coarsely distributed nest fibers. Transparency Authentic bird nest will appear semi-transparent compared to a fake bird nest, which will either be nontransparent or even reflective in some cases. This reflective quality of fake edible bird nests is the result of undesirable chemicals. How to Test for Fake Bird’s Nests The Crumble Test A simple way to test the authenticity of your edible bird nests is to crumble it between your fingers. Natural bird nests should break down into a powder-like substance during this process. In comparison, while synthetic bird's nests will emulate the fragility of authentic bird nests, there's one key difference –– fake edible bird nests will break off into chunks instead of a powder. The Soak Test A critical part of making edible bird nests into bird nest soup is the soaking process, which usually takes around 1-2 hours. This step is important for the rehydration process that’s needed to properly prepare bird nests for soups or drinks. 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. On the other hand, fake bird’s nests will maintain a uniform shape during the soaking process as well as a minor chemical or fatty/fried smell. The surface of the fake bird’s nest will also be bumpy. Next, the size of the bird nest post-soak. Fake nests don’t expand. However, an authentic bird’s nest will often double in size after soaking. In fact, real nests can absorb up to seven to nine times their weight in water. Finally, there’s the soaking water. Because edible bird’s nests are made from water-based swiftlet saliva, the substance should mix well with the soaking water. For instance, if you were to stir a bird’s nest while soaking, a bubbly foam would appear on the surface of the water. However, since fake bird’s nests are made from chemicals, stirring a fake bird’s nest in the soaking water will only cloud the water. How to Choose the Best Bird's Nests The key to selecting a good bird’s nest is to purchase them from a reputable source. The last thing anyone wants is to spend money only to eat fake bird's nest soup. Not only do fake bird nests lack the nutritional benefits of the real product, they also have an inferior texture. The critical things to look for when...

How are Bird Nest’s Made? These nests are made from swiftlets / swallow birds utilizing saliva that have been solidified and prepared so they’re edible. These bird nests are treasured in Chinese cuisine as they are rare, delicious and have high nutritional content. These bird nests have different grading / types, and this is determined by the size and the cleanliness of the birds nest. Colors vary, with white being one of the most coveted as it is softer than the other colors and provides many health benefits including promoting smooth skin. While these nests are just becoming popular in the West, they have been part of Chinese culture and cuisine for over four centuries, often as bird’s nest soup. Bird’s Nest Soup and Other Dishes While these nests can be used in different ways, they are best known as bird’s nest soup. As the nest dissipates in water, they become gelatinous and then used as an ingredient in soup. In Chinese cuisine it is called the sweet soup or savoury. There are many ways to prepare the dish, and as per the Suiyuan shidan, the gastronomy guide of the Qing Dynasty, the nest should not be prepared with anything oily or other powerful ingredients as it is delicate. The dish is also prepared in generous quantities in order to best appreciate its taste. Aside from its exquisite taste, bird’s nests can also be turned into ingredients in other foods and dishes. This nest for instance, can be used for the preparation of bird’s nest boiled rice, bird’s nest congee and prepared with rice. These nests can also be used as ingredients for desserts such as bird’s nest jelly. Bird’s nest jelly is made when the nest is placed in a ceramic jar with a bit of water and salt or sugar, after which it is steamed. Harvesting of the Nests Various types of bird nests can be harvested, with the most in demand being the Aerodramus maximus (black nest swiftlet) and the Aerodramus fuciphagus (white nest swiftlet). Both white and red nests are renowned throughout China and the rest of the world not just because of their taste but a lot of people say they have benefited health wise. The majority of these nests are made when the breeding season arrives. These nests are created by the male swiftlet and have the appearance of a light cup embedded to a wall. These nests are made from various salivary cement strands, and it is this mixture that provides the nest with plenty of magnesium, potassium, iron and calcium. Back in the days these nests were harvested directly in the caves, in particular the caves at Niah and those in Gomantong in Borneo. Because of the high demand for these nests beginning in the 1990s, special structures have been used in their stead. To make harvesting easier, these nests are situated close to the sea as that is where birds are most likely to be found. Supply and Demand The United States and Canada are among the biggest consumers of bird’s nests, and bird’s nest soups are very much in demand and can fetch a high price. CM Nest Group supply the natural white birds nest which is harvested from the high-rise buildings / houses. Due to the high demand for white bird’s nests, counterfeiters have tried to take advantage of the situation. To combat this threat, authorities in various countries have started using RFID technology, using microchips on the nests with details about transport, packaging, harvesting and so on. The huge demand for bird’s nests has led to a thriving industry in particular the Indonesian province of North Sumatra. The many bird’s nets harvested and prepared there are exported to countries around the world including Canada and the United States. However, the majority of consumers are still in China. The best bird’s nests are handled and processed in special facilities to ensure consistency of quality, with effects analysis and failure mode among the techniques used to verify the authenticity of an edible bird nest. There was a time when this delicacy was reserved for emperors and royalty, but now it is available for everyone. Demand for these nests is greater than ever, to the point that it makes up 0.5% of the GDP of Indonesia. Globally it is now a $5 billion industry.