Blood Nest (Semi-lunar depression, pouch-shaped, with raised outer surface. The inside of the nest is rough, like luffa. It is yellowish-white, gray-white to reddish-brown, hard and brittle, and easily falls apart.)
【Naming】
【Source】
Fengyuan
【Frequency of Use】
B
【Botanical Origin】
It is built by the swiftlet Collocalia esculenta L. (of the family Apodidae) and several other species in the same genus, using saliva or a mixture of saliva and down feathers, which then solidifies.
【Characteristics】
It presents as an irregular semi-lunar shape, approximately 6.5~10㎝ long and 3~5㎝ wide, with a yellowish-white or grayish-white color, concave and pouch-shaped. The side attached to the rock is relatively flat, while the outer side is slightly raised. The layer of solidified mucus on the attached surface is arranged relatively neatly and is more delicate than the raised surface, appearing wavy. The inside of the nest is rough, resembling luffa. It is hard and brittle, with a slightly horny appearance on the cut surface. It softens and expands when immersed in water.
Commercial products are divided into white nests and blood nests. White nests (also known as official nests) are pure white in color, occasionally with a few down feathers. Feather nests are gray in color and contain more gray-black feathers. Blood nests contain reddish-brown blood-colored strands.
【Identification】
Ben Cao Cong Xin: “The one that looks like unpolished rice is the best.” Ben Cao Hai Li: “The one that looks like unpolished rice is the best.”
Natural bird’s nest has a natural appearance, glossy color, and is arranged in a wavy pattern of silk strands. The inner pouch shape is reticulated (the original ones have a small amount of down); it does not dissolve easily after prolonged stewing, and it is crunchy and smooth when chewed, with a unique bird’s nest aroma. The best are those that are reddish-purple, complete, and unbroken. The quality of white nests is the best, while those with black and many feathers are inferior.
【Identification Terminology】
Bird’s Nest Cup (Yan Zhan): The complete bird’s nest is semi-lunar and curved like a cup, commonly known as Bird’s Nest Cup.
【Chapter】
Vertebrates