Harvest Time
Swallow nests are harvested 3 times per year. So swiftlets lose their homes three times a season. The first period is from November to March, which is immediately followed by the second and third periods.
Rainfall is particularly substantial during the first period. This provides an environment highly suitable for the growth of tiny animals and plants, giving swiftlets plenty of food. Swiftlets in this period grow particularly strong and thereby produce copious amount of saliva. Swallow nests harvested during this period are the best because they are big and thick, containing fewer impurities.
The second harvesting period is during the dry season, between April and June. There is a decrease in food supply for the swiftlets and this results in the nests being thin and loose and the nest threads thick. The shape and the swelling capacity of the nests are poorer than those of the first period.
The third period is well within the drought season, between July and October. During this period of the year, the swiftlets are weak. Their secretion of saliva is low and feathers come off more easily.
Swallow nests that are constructed are smaller in size, containing more impurities and feathers and have a very poor swelling capacity. As the nests are traditionally harvested from high up on cave walls, there is some risk to the collectors who stand on bamboo scaffolding that is sometimes hundreds of feet tall and centuries old. The risk involved in harvesting is a reason why cave swallow nest is so expensive. In contrast, house swallow nest is less expensive.
Cleaning the Nest
Processing swallow's nest is a long, tedious and labor intensive process.
First the raw swallow's nest has to be soaked for 2 to 48 hours for them to absorb water and expand. Depending on the kind of nests, the time required for them to expand or swell is different. The water need not be retained after soaking.
The next step is to separate the feathers from the edible cement content. Larger feathers can be easily plucked off with a pair of forceps.
Finally, place the expanded swallow nest on a double-layer stainless steel strainer. Rinse with tap water and at the same time tear the threads of the nest apart to remove the impurities.
Swallow nests are harvested 3 times per year. So swiftlets lose their homes three times a season. The first period is from November to March, which is immediately followed by the second and third periods.
Rainfall is particularly substantial during the first period. This provides an environment highly suitable for the growth of tiny animals and plants, giving swiftlets plenty of food. Swiftlets in this period grow particularly strong and thereby produce copious amount of saliva. Swallow nests harvested during this period are the best because they are big and thick, containing fewer impurities.
The second harvesting period is during the dry season, between April and June. There is a decrease in food supply for the swiftlets and this results in the nests being thin and loose and the nest threads thick. The shape and the swelling capacity of the nests are poorer than those of the first period.
The third period is well within the drought season, between July and October. During this period of the year, the swiftlets are weak. Their secretion of saliva is low and feathers come off more easily.
Swallow nests that are constructed are smaller in size, containing more impurities and feathers and have a very poor swelling capacity. As the nests are traditionally harvested from high up on cave walls, there is some risk to the collectors who stand on bamboo scaffolding that is sometimes hundreds of feet tall and centuries old. The risk involved in harvesting is a reason why cave swallow nest is so expensive. In contrast, house swallow nest is less expensive.
Cleaning the Nest
Processing swallow's nest is a long, tedious and labor intensive process.
First the raw swallow's nest has to be soaked for 2 to 48 hours for them to absorb water and expand. Depending on the kind of nests, the time required for them to expand or swell is different. The water need not be retained after soaking.
The next step is to separate the feathers from the edible cement content. Larger feathers can be easily plucked off with a pair of forceps.
Finally, place the expanded swallow nest on a double-layer stainless steel strainer. Rinse with tap water and at the same time tear the threads of the nest apart to remove the impurities.
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