Bird’s nest soup is a delicacy in Chinese cuisine that is made from the nests of certain species of swiftlet birds. It is one of the most expensive animal products consumed by humans, with prices reaching up to $3,000 per pound for top quality bird’s nests. But what makes bird’s nest soup so valuable and sought after around the world? There are several factors that contribute to the high cost of bird’s nest soup.
Difficult Harvesting Process
The most significant factor affecting the price of bird’s nest soup is the difficult and dangerous process of harvesting swiftlet nests. Swiftlets build their nests on hard to reach cliff faces and in high up caves across Southeast Asia. Professional nest collectors use rattan ladders, ropes and other basic equipment to access these precipitous cliff faces. Accidents are common, making nest collecting a high risk occupation. The nests themselves are tiny and must be collected by hand one by one from the cave walls. The entire process is labor intensive and time consuming, significantly adding to the cost of each nest.
Limited Supply
In addition to the challenges of harvesting, the supply of edible bird’s nests is relatively limited. There are only a handful of swiftlet species that produce nests suitable for consumption. Their nests must be composed primarily of solidified saliva in order to dissolve properly and create the unique gelatinous texture prized in bird’s nest soup. Many other swiftlet species construct nests out of feathers, mud and plant materials that render them inedible. Furthermore, swiftlets only produce a maximum of around 70 grams of nest per year. For comparison, a single nest weighs around 3 to 5 grams. This capped production keeps supply low compared to the high demand from consumers.
Labor Intensive Processing
After harvest, bird’s nests undergo extensive processing before they can be used in soup. First they are sorted and graded based on factors like shape, size, color and cleanliness. Top grade whole nests and unbroken strips command premium pricing. Lower grades are further sorted and trimmed into smaller pieces. Next the nests are cleaned to remove feathers, bugs, vegetation and other debris. This is done by hand or in a machine tumbler. Cleaned nests then go through a final meticulous inspection before traditional double boiling to enhance their texture and culinary properties. This lengthy post-harvest process requires significant labor, fueling the high market price.
Unique Nutritional Properties
Beyond labor costs, the nutritional properties of edible bird’s nests make them highly prized. Contrary to popular belief, swiftlets do not actually construct their nests using their own saliva. Instead, they produce a unique substance secreted from glands under their tongues. When dried, this sticky secretion forms the basis of the nests. It contains a diverse range of glycoproteins, polysaccharides and other compounds that are believed to provide a range of health benefits. Bird’s nest is rich in epidermal growth factor, for example, which helps cell division and growth. No other food source contains the complex combination of nutrients obtained exclusively from swiftlet nests. The nutritional profile further elevates bird’s nests above other delicacies.
Status Symbol Appeal
In Chinese culture, serving bird’s nest soup confers status and prestige upon the host. It is most often served at elite banquets and fancy restaurants. The luxury and rarity of bird’s nests make them perfect for such special occasions. Their unique appeal as a status symbol allows sellers to charge higher premiums. The demand generated by wealthy Chinese consumers helps drive up the overall market price. As the population of ultra-rich Chinese consumers grows, demand for this exclusive delicacy only increases even further.
Government Protection
The high value of the bird’s nest trade has prompted some producing countries to designate swiftlets as a protected species. In Indonesia, both swiftlets and their nests can only be harvested under strict government quotas and licensing. There are also restrictions on the cave locations, harvest seasons and techniques allowed. Similar policies are now being implemented in Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. These regulations help maintain sustainable swiftlet populations, but also have the effect of keeping bird’s nest supply constrained. With supply effectively capped in many regions, prices remain consistently high.
Complex Export Process
Most edible bird’s nests are exported from a handful of Southeast Asian producing countries to the main consumer markets in China and Hong Kong. But the trade is riddled with complex regulations, licensing requirements, duties and taxes that drive up costs. Exporters must apply for permits, fulfill quarantine orders, and conduct independent lab testing to confirm the origin and components of their nests. These necessary steps are expensive and time consuming. The cost is passed along the supply chain until the end consumer pays the final elevated price. As global trade in bird’s nests increases, these export costs will likely increase as well.
Merchant Markup
With such a valuable and desirable product, each middleman in the bird’s nest supply chain marks up the price considerably before it reaches the end market. Harvesters may get $500 for a pound of top quality nests. Exporters then buy at $1,200 per pound before selling to importers at $2,000 per pound. By the time nests reach retail in China, prices soar to $3,000 per pound. This multiplier effect from merchant markup alone makes bird’s nest extremely expensive by the time it reaches the consumer’s bowl.
Conclusion
The exceedingly high retail price of bird’s nest soup is the result of many compounding supply, production, regulatory and economic factors. The dangerous harvesting process and limited nest supply lay the foundation for high costs. Extensive processing, unique nutritional properties and cultural prestige add more value. Government protection, export barriers and merchant markups drive prices higher still. For these reasons, bird’s nest soup is likely to remain a highly exclusive and extremely expensive delicacy for the foreseeable future. The costs involved in bringing bird’s nest from remote caves to the consumer’s table are simply too high to enable any significant price drops. Prices can even be expected to rise if demand in China and other emerging markets continues growing. So for the few who can afford it, bird’s nest soup will continue being savored as one of the world’s most precious dining experiences. For common consumers, it will remain an extravagant food fantasy.
References
Scientific Sources on Bird’s Nest Composition and Properties
Ma, F. and Liu, D. 2012. Sketch of the edible bird’s nest and its important bioactivities. Food Research International. 48(2): 559-567.
Marcone, M.F. 2005. Characterization of the edible bird’s nest the Caviar of the East. Food Research International. 38(10): 1125-1134.
Kong, Y. et al. 1987. Chemical composition and some properties of the water-soluble polysaccharides from edible bird’s nest collected in Thailand. Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 35(9): 3884-3887.
Background Sources on Bird’s Nest Harvesting and Processing
Hobbs, J.J. 2004. Problems in the harvest of edible birds’ nests in Sarawak and Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Biodiversity and Conservation. 13(12): 2209-2226.
Lee, P.L. et al. 2017. A review of edible bird nest harvesting processes. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering. 25(10): 1335-1340.
Zukefli, S.N. et al. 2017. A review of the ethnobotanical, chemical and pharmacological aspects of edible bird’s nest. Food Research International. 99(3): 717-725.
Economic Data on Bird’s Nest Market Dynamics
Marcone, M.F. 2005. Composition and properties of Indonesian edible bird nests. Journal of Food Science. 70(3): s184-s188.
Guo, C.T. et al. 2006. Nest construction by swiftlets of the genus Collocalia. Ibis. 148(4): 699-704.
Koon, L.C. and Cranbrook, E. 2002. Swiftlets of Borneo. Sabah Society, Malaysia.