Bird Nest Soup With Ginseng

Ginseng is a slow-growing plant with a forked-shaped root, which is similar to the legs of a person. Ginseng itself has various classifications such as Asian ginseng (red ginseng, fresh ginseng, white ginseng, and wild ginseng) and American ginseng.

What is used the most for medical purpose is the root of the ginseng, though the leaf is also sometimes used. Limited research shows that ginseng has various benefits including roles as a stimulant, type II diabetes treatment, and cure for sexual dysfunction in men. Ginseng is also used in herbal teas, energy drinks, or cosmetic materials.

Bird Nest Soup With Ginseng

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, ginseng is claimed to calm the body, restore the health, and boost the energy. However, some overdose use of ginseng might lead to some symptoms. Therefore, it is important to consume it in the correct amount.
Ginseng, if combined with the Bird Nest Soup, might provide unlimited health benefits as each of them has numerous benefits themselves. One of the perfect combinations for Bird Nest Soup and ginseng is through a high-protein dessert, like this Bird Nest Soup with Ginseng & Rock Sugar recipe:

Ingredients:

- 3 pieces of dry Bird Nest Soup
- 10 grams of sliced ginseng
- 100 grams of rock sugar
- 300 ml water

How to cook:

1. Soak Bird Nest Soup in clear water for at least 4 hours, and change the water to soak it again for another 2 hours. Observe that the Bird Nest Soup becomes soft and expand from its original shape.
2. Dispose water used to soak the Bird Nest Soup with filter.
3. Rinse the ginseng.
4. Place the Bird Nest Soup and ginseng with 200 ml of hot water and simmer for 1.5 hours.
5. Add rock sugar and stir for 10-15 minutes until the Bird Nest Soup is soft. Simmer for another 30 minutes.
6. Let it cool down for 15 minutes, then serve.

Nitrite and Nitrate Levels in Bird Nest Soup

Nitrites are not allowed to be added to Bird Nest Soup in Hong Kong , although it is known that they may exist naturally in Bird Nest Soup under certain conditions. Traders should source Bird Nest Soups from reliable suppliers and ensure all foods they sell or import are fit for human consumption. The common practice of soaking Bird Nest Soups for several hours, or even overnight, and washing them thoroughly with clean water can substantially reduce nitrite levels. Since nitrites are water soluble, The public should discard the water used for soaking Bird Nest Soup before cooking.

Nitrite and Nitrate Levels in Bird Nest Soup

Following up the incident of nitrites in blood-red Bird Nest Soup, a local university conducted a study on nitrite and nitrate levels in Bird Nest Soups revealing the presence of both chemicals in all 67 samples of Bird Nest Soups. The amounts varied significantly with blood-red Bird Nest Soups having the highest average levels.
In Hong Kong , nitrite and nitrate are not permitted to be added in Bird Nest Soup, but relevant regulation is not applicable to nitrite and nitrate naturally present in Bird Nest Soup. The mechanism of the natural presence of nitrite in Bird Nest Soup is not entirely clear. Some suggested that nitrite may be formed due to fermentation and the levels may vary with the extent of environmental contamination.
To alleviate public concern, the local university study also tested and confirmed that majority of nitrites and nitrates can be removed by washing and soaking. To reduce exposure to nitrites and nitrates, Bird Nest Soup should be washed and soaked for several hours or even overnight before cooking. Soaking water should be replaced once or twice during the process and be discarded.

Nitrites in Blood-red Bird Nest Soup

Recently, high levels of nitrites were detected in blood-red Bird Nest Soup samples in the Mainland market. There were concerns that nitrites might have been added to Bird Nest Soup to produce the desirable red colour.
Bird Nest Soup is made from secretions of Swiftlets' salivary glands and usually consumed as a delicacy in Chinese cuisine. The reason for the red colour of blood-red Bird Nest Soup is not entirely clear.
Nitrites are not allowed to be added to Bird Nest Soup in Hong Kong , although it is known that they may exist naturally in Bird Nest Soup under certain conditions. Traders should source Bird Nest Soups from reliable suppliers and ensure all foods they sell or import are fit for human consumption. The common practice of soaking Bird Nest Soups for several hours, or even overnight, and washing them thoroughly with clean water can substantially reduce nitrite levels. Since nitrites are water soluble, The public should discard the water used for soaking Bird Nest Soup before cooking.