What is edible bird's nest and where does it come from?
Edible bird's nest is a nest that swiftlets build from their own saliva, which then hardens. It has long been prized as a delicacy in Chinese cuisine, and Indonesia is recorded as a leading producer of bird's nest worldwide.
Made from swiftlet saliva
The main material of the nest is saliva secreted by a pair of glands under the swiftlet's tongue (Lee et al., 2021). The two main producing species are Aerodramus fuciphagus (the white-nest swiftlet) and Aerodramus maximus (the black-nest swiftlet), both found in Southeast Asia (Chok et al., 2021).
White nests are made almost entirely of saliva and are mostly produced in swiftlet houses, purpose-built buildings where the birds nest. Black nests contain feathers and small dried leaves that make up about 45–55% of their content, and are harvested only in caves (Lee et al., 2021). In Chinese cuisine, the nest is double-boiled with rock sugar to make bird's nest soup.
Indonesia, a leading producer
Published reviews record Indonesia as a leading producer of edible bird's nest worldwide, followed by Malaysia (Lee et al., 2021). Its exports are estimated at around 2,000 tonnes a year (Chok et al., 2021). According to Indonesia's Ministry of Agriculture, China was the main destination for Indonesian bird's nest exports in 2024, with a 77.74% share.
| What it is made of | Hardened swiftlet saliva |
|---|---|
| Main producing species | Aerodramus fuciphagus (white nest) and Aerodramus maximus (black nest) |
| Where the birds nest | Swiftlet houses (mostly white nests) and caves (black nests) |
| Leading producer | Indonesia, followed by Malaysia |
| Main export destination for Indonesia (2024) | China, 77.74% of exports |
| Components that are widely studied | Protein, glycoproteins and sialic acid |
Components that are widely studied
According to published reviews, the average protein content of bird's nest ranges from 50 to 55% of its dry weight, and its main carbohydrate is sialic acid (Lee et al., 2021). Bird's nest also contains a group of glycoproteins, and its nutritional composition is affected by the harvesting season (Chok et al., 2021).
These components are still being researched. We describe them as general knowledge about the ingredient, not as a promise of any result. Bird's nest products, including Nestlab gummies, are food products, not medicine.
Frequently asked questions
What is edible bird's nest made of?
Hardened swiftlet saliva. White nests are almost entirely saliva, while black nests also contain feathers and small dried leaves.
Does bird's nest only come from Indonesia?
No. Nest-building swiftlets live in several Southeast Asian countries, but Indonesia is recorded as a leading producer worldwide, followed by Malaysia.
What is sialic acid in bird's nest?
Sialic acid is described as the main carbohydrate in bird's nest and is one of the components often discussed in research on bird's nest.