Just about anyone in the bird nest industry can claim to be a supplier. But not all of them can claim to be genuine providers. If you intend to buy edible bird nests anywhere and are wondering how to find genuine suppliers, then this article is for you.
Genuine Birds Nest Fountains
To identify a genuine provider of bird nests, you need to understand where they source their nests from. Edible bird nests are built by three different species of Swiftlets birds, namely; Collocalia Fuchipaga, Collocalia Esculanta and Collocalia Maxima. Most of these birds build their nests in limestone caves, while others build theirs in abandoned houses near the town. These birds build these nests to raise their young.
The Collocalia Fuchipaga
The Collocalia Fuchipaga produces the white birds nests which are considered to be the highest quality of all. This species of swiftlet uses its saliva to build its nest. Saliva acts like gelatinous threads. The nest of this species is made up of 87% – 97% saliva and other elements such as feathers. The high percentage of saliva makes it a rich source of minerals and nutrients and is the reason why white nests are considered the best quality.
The Collocalia Esculanta
The species Collocalia Esculanta uses its saliva and leaves to build its nests. As such, nests typically contain 5-15% of the bird’s saliva, with the rest being leaves. In addition, the nests are usually transparent, grayish in color and shiny.
The Maximum Collocalia
The Collocalia Maxima species uses its feathers and saliva to build nests. These nests look dull, they are cream colored and shiny. The nest is often made up of 5% saliva, with the rest being the bird’s feathers. Collocalia Maxima nests are absolutely safe and healthy for human consumption. Here are some relevant tips to help you differentiate fake nest providers from authentic nest providers:
Allows Inspection
Genuine suppliers of bird nests allow buyers to inspect them before purchasing. Avoid buying from suppliers that do not allow physical inspection. Some nests are prepackaged to prevent people from inspecting them. Don’t buy the prepackaged ones.
Sizes
When inspecting any nest, note the sizes. The originals are not all the same size. All species of Swiftlets are not exactly the same and even within the same species, the sizes are different. As such, all nest sizes cannot be the same. But all the fake ones usually have the same sizes.
Ask for evidence of government approval
Before buying from any supplier, ask for proof of government approval. In several different countries where bird’s nests are available for sale, the government often has a regulatory agency to control the activities of the vendors.
smell the smell
Bird nests are often harvested after the young Swiftlets are weaned and have flown away. As such, the nests often have a faint eggy odor. As you observe the nests, pay close attention to the scent emanating from them. The ones sold by fake vendors have hardly any odor and if they do, they barely smell like eggs. The fake ones often smell like chemical bleach if you look closely.
look at the colors
The color of the nests sold by fake vendors is usually absolutely white or reflective. These fakes have been chemically bleached and are unhealthy and harmful if consumed. The real ones are usually cream-colored and not absolutely reflective or transparent.
Try the bird’s nest water experiment
You can try this water experiment to check if a bird’s nest is fake or genuine. Start by soaking a small portion in water for a few minutes. Carefully pull the strands out of the nest. If the strands break instantly easily, then the nest is not authentic. The real ones are made by Swiftlets and the bird’s saliva solidifies. Ideally, it would take almost 48 hours or more to soak a genuine nest before its strands come loose.
How to spot fake providers
Most fake bird nest suppliers often pre-package it to avoid physical inspection. Such nests are often sealed in a small container and labelled. Be careful if you intend to buy them. They are often unhealthy and extremely harmful. Fake vendors make their nests out of different materials. Some of these materials include mushrooms, gelatin, glue and flour, pigskin, sea gum, or tree algae.
Fake breeders know how to make their fake nests look like the real thing, but there are ways to spot them. Bird nests are fragile and easily broken. The fake ones don’t break easily, they are elastic. Also, the fake ones have a shiny surface and when touched, they feel like plastic. Before you buy from any vendor, feel the nest to see how it feels and note its level of elasticity.
Conclution
Many fake bird nest vendors are usually smarter than many people can imagine. They go to great lengths to make the fake nests look like the real thing and can easily entice buyers by offering low prices. But if you intend to buy from a genuine supplier of bird nests but don’t know how to find one, then you should follow the tips mentioned in this article step by step.