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Our premium bird's nests
Bird's nests are usually differentiate by it's shape and size, cleanliness and color, density and expansion coefficient, price and dampness. Spoon-shaped bird's nests are most welcome while triangular-shaped bird's nests are caused by shaping due to nests being built too close to corners of walls but their nutritional values are the same. Naturally shaped and large bird's nest pieces determine the classes of bird's nests. Different types of minerals are contained in the food sought after by swiftlets and the colour of the saliva secreted by them has different shades. The colour of bird's nests becomes lighter when they are soaked in water; they expand and the strips of bird's nests become transparent while the water in which they are soaked remains clear. Be extra careful if the bird's nests are extremely white. This type of bird's nest could have been bleached and this would drastically reduce their nutritional value or they may even harm the human body.
Tips
The finer and more concentrated the bird's nest strands, without empty gaps in between and bird's nest pieces which are larger and thicker would expand more when soaked. Different classes of bird's nest possess different expansion coefficient, that is their weight would increase several times after soaking compared to their dry weights. “Expansion coefficient” is a technical word used in the industry to mean the affinity for water. The higher the expansion coefficient, the more the bird's nest expands. Expansion coefficient should be calculated based on weight rather than volume. Natural pure bird's nests possess the taste of swiftlet saliva and a slight fishy smell, while there is a slight fragrance of proteins upon stewing. Always choose dry bird's nests with a sticky feeling when held in your hand. Those which feel soft are definitely not dry. Besides containing lots of water, and apart from being disliked, they are not suitable for storage as they get moldy easily and their expansion coefficient is lower. The selection and purchase of bird's nests is best done at reliable outlets for assurance of quality.
