Premium Bird Nest Soup could fetch $21,660 per kg

PETALING JAYA - Retail prices for premium-grade Bird Nest Soups could go as high as 100,000 yuan (RM66,625 or S$21,660) per kg in China.

The item is listed on a price guide on Bird Nest Soups by Beijing Tong­rentang, a 300-year-old pharmaceutical company in China.

Premium Bird Nest Soups fetch around 40,000 yuan (RM26,648) to 100,000 yuan for every kg while the standard variety costs between 20,000 yuan (RM13,318) and 40,000 yuan.

The Federation of Malaysia Bird Nest Soup Industry Merchant Asso­ciations president Datuk Lee Kong Heng confirmed that processed Bird Nest Soups in Guangzhou, inclusive of tax, fetched between 17,000 yuan (RM11,306) and 23,000 yuan (RM15,297).

Premium Bird Nest Soup could fetch $21,660 per kg

"These are for those with proper export documentation," he said.

Currently, only processed Bird Nest Soups can be exported to China via 16 companies approved by the Certification and Accreditation Administration of China.

Raw unprocessed Bird Nest Soups are not allowed into China, in line with a ban imposed in 2011, and are sold to local processing establishments for between RM2,500 and RM3,000 at present.

However, sources reveal that China's black market for raw nests could fetch a higher price.

The Prime Minister's Special Envoy to China Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting said both the Malaysian and the Chinese governments were keen to see the ban lifted.

"Both sides are working at the final stage of approval for the export of raw unprocessed Bird Nest Soups to China," he said, without giving a date.

Ong, who was involved in the mediation, said he expected the price of unprocessed nests to rise further once the agreement was ironed out.

He believed that the Chinese nationals' purchasing power held much promise for the industry.

Ong pointed out that the ban was a lesson to be learnt, urging industry players to adhere to a higher level of professionalism.

How To Prepare Bird Nest Soup

A bowl of Bird Nest Soup is a prized Chinese delicacy. Bird Nest Soups are expensive due to the difficulty in harvesting and the many benefits it brings. Bird Nest Soup does wonders for the skin, throat and lungs, as well as boosting overall health and well-being.

Lots of Asian celebrities consume this daily to look beautiful! When cooked, the Bird Nest Soup takes on a gelatin texture, making it a lovely tong shui (“sweet soup”; Chinese dessert). The highly recommended way to enjoy Bird Nest Soup, is just with water and rock sugar. Check out the recipe below to make that homely bowl of double-boiled Bird Nest Soup.

Information:

Serves: 1
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

1 piece  Bird Nest Soup
1 bowl of water
A handful of rock sugar to taste
3 pieces red dates (optional)
2 pieces dried longan (optional)
5 pieces wolfberries (optional)
3 pieces American Ginseng Slices (optional)

Directions

Soak Bird Nest Soup in a bowl of water overnight (8-10 hours) until expanded and softened.
Pluck out any feathers or debris using kitchen tweezers. Rinse and drain. To prevent wastage, run soaking water through a fine sieve to catch the small bits of Bird Nest Soup.
Add soaked Bird Nest Soup, 1 rice bowl of water, and any another optional ingredients in a small bowl and cover with lid.
Place small bowl inside a larger pot and make sure the water in the larger pot starts to boil. Once it starts boiling, close the lid for the small bowl and let it boil for 15 minutes. When the Bird Nest Soup is cooked to desired texture, stir in rock sugar to taste and cover for about 5 minutes to allow the sugar to dissolve fully. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

TIPS

1. Rather than weighing the Bird Nest Soup, go by pieces per person. For one person, use 1 piece of Bird Nest Soup. This equates to about 8-10 grams per person. We use 1 rice bowl of water per person.
2. Although red dates are a common addition in Bird Nest Soup, we wouldn't recommend using it. According to our own experience, the cheap red dates will act like a sponge which absorb the goodness of the Bird Nest Soup (though it’s not so bad if you eat the red dates).
3. We highly recommend to enjoy Bird Nest Soup in the purest way – just Bird Nest Soup, water and rock sugar. You may also add American ginseng slices. If you find ginseng bitter or intend to consume at night (it improves alertness/提神), omit it.
4. Don’t fuss over prepping the Bird Nest Soup, because our Bird Nest Soup usually very clean. Simply soak the Bird Nest Soup pieces in water overnight until fully expanded and softened, but not so long that the Bird Nest Soup disintegrates into small bits. If there are any impurities such as debris and feathers (which is very normal, as it proves that it is 100% authentic Bird Nest Soup), pluck them out using a kitchen tweezer, drain, and they are ready for cooking.
5. Avoid boiling Bird Nest Soup for too long. Boiling them for too long will remove the solid chunks in the Bird Nest Soup, and cause it to become very watery. It will also remove all the proteins and good nutrients inside the Bird Nest Soup. The older folks especially dislike it when the stewed Bird Nest Soup do not have solid chunks after cooking (i.e. very watery). We highly recommend boiling them for 15 minutes max.
6. For best results, use the traditional way of double-boiling instead of an electronic double-boiler slow cooker. However, an electronic slow cooker is an alternative, subjected to personal preference.
7. It is said that Bird Nest Soup is best consumed at room temperature, or chilled, on an empty stomach (such as just before bed, or when you wake up in the morning). For maximum absorption, do not eat “heaty” snacks or medication a few hours before and after drinking Bird Nest Soup.