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Bird's Nest

post #1 of 15
8/24/07 at 7:42pm
Thread Starter 
Has anyone ever tried Bird's Nest or Bird's Nest Soup?

This is a very expensive and premium delicacy in Asia and sometimes cost as much as $100 per bowl of soup or dessert.

Anyone have any opinions on the taste/texture/experience in eating it?

Thanks.
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post #2 of 15
8/24/07 at 8:01pm
They use it a lot in Chinese food. It is more texture than taste in the same way that you really don`t taste shark fin.

There is also a sweet version that my wife loves, and tries to justify the price by convincing me that there is some majical effect on the skin.
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post #3 of 15
8/24/07 at 8:55pm
it's bird's saliva... kinda nasty if i think about it.
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post #4 of 15
8/24/07 at 11:33pm
On soup, its just like sipping raw egg white or watery snot. I don't see the value of it, though my older relatives used to cherish this dish. The bird's nest is actually dried up saliva from cave swifts, usually collected in the wild but lately some groups in Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia has successfully bred this kind of bird for their nests. Now, bull penis cooked in herbal soup on the other hand....
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post #5 of 15
8/25/07 at 12:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by acidicboy View Post
On soup, its just like sipping raw egg white or watery snot. I don't see the value of it, though my older relatives used to cherish this dish. The bird's nest is actually dired up saliva from cave swifts, usually collected in the wild but lately some groups in Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia has successfully bred this kind of bird for their nests.

Now, bull penis cooked in herbal soup on the other hand....

omg that is so gross.
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post #6 of 15
8/25/07 at 4:55am
had it in a canned drink I bought from a Vietnamese grocery store. It was pretty awful. Right up there with the Aloe vera jelly drink I bought from the same place
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post #7 of 15
8/25/07 at 5:14am
Yes, I've had it and I liked it.

However, it's one of those little indulgences like shark's fin and abalone, quite expensive if you want quality.
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post #8 of 15
8/25/07 at 5:42am
Thread Starter 
i think i will like it too.

i am thinking it may be similar in texture like vermicelli in kimchi stew sometimes koreans will put it in there.
the vermicelli is transparent and will turn a very soft rubbery texture that gives a really unique consistency to the kimchi chigae.
something like that.
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post #9 of 15
8/26/07 at 12:38pm
I've had it. Frankly, there're plenty other more tasty stuff found at your local supermarket. Bird's Nest Soup is normally eaten for the bling factor, nothing else.
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post #10 of 15
8/27/07 at 10:53am
in the jakarta airport duty free you can buy shark fins and birds nests - they really look like regular nests, packaged in a box, maybe 6 or 9 to a box, not cheap. never tried it, though
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post #11 of 15
8/27/07 at 5:27pm
Thread Starter 
how much did they cost the birds nest package in approximate US dollars? just curious.
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post #12 of 15
8/27/07 at 5:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shoe View Post
how much did they cost the birds nest package in approximate US dollars? just curious.

sorry - i just remember that they registered as "expensive" in my mind. If I had to guess, maybe 100 for package. some of the pieces of sharks fin were about $1000.
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post #13 of 15
8/27/07 at 5:33pm
Thread Starter 
wow. im really curious to pick up a box of those nests one day.

now actually preparing something edible with them..that is another story.
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post #14 of 15
8/28/07 at 4:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by shoe View Post
i think i will like it too.

i am thinking it may be similar in texture like vermicelli in kimchi stew sometimes koreans will put it in there.
the vermicelli is transparent and will turn a very soft rubbery texture that gives a really unique consistency to the kimchi chigae.
something like that.

Its more subtle than vermicelli, Brian. There is no soft rubbery texture, just the feeling that you have something soft and delicate in your mouth.
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post #15 of 15
8/28/07 at 4:34am
It's rather good paired with white fungus.
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