Of course the Edible-nest swiftlets’ nest are renowned for even more medicinal properties than those I mentioned in the previous article. In fact if you’re interested to learn more you can always read about them here. But the point is, the Edible-nest swiftlets’ nest are insanely expensive for two main reasons:
- Their medicinal properties
- The dangers involved in harvesting for them
You ask: Is it eating bird’s nest soup good?
It rather depends on how you look at it and from whose point of view. If it’s from yours as a consumer then I guess if the medicinal properties work for you and you parted with your cash for it at a fair price then I suppose the answer is yes. However if you were to look at it from the point of view of the swiflets, an animal lover or a even just a far sighted eco-lover then perhaps the answer would lean more towards a no and I’ll explain why that is.
Supply equals demand and the devil of greed in between
Now the prized qualities of the the Edible-nest swiftlets’ nest has existed since the ancient days and was always part of the Chinese Imperial Meal. Thus needless to say, it was a rare and esteemed commodity affordable only to the royals and rich, but as times moved on, economical situations changed- you may thank the existence of free markets or the abolishment of certain governmental systems for it but the point is more people made more money now.
Yet the one thing that never changed is how the Edible-nest swiftlets’ nest were still in demand and as expensive as ever. In fact the growth in the number of people who could now afford it, directly grew the demand for it. To add to the magnitude, the demand was no longer confined to the local Asian markets, it had gone global and why isn’t that a surprise? Least you forget, in our modern times, if the promise of longevity didn’t sell surely the promise of beauty does and the bird’s nest promised both!
Follow me so far?
Despite the escalating/soaring prices of the nests that resulted from the market demand for it, the supply of Edible-nest swiftlets’ nest weren’t matching up in numbers or in speed. Nature can’t be rushed!
Next up tomorrow: Bird’s Nest, the Ecological and animal welfare tie
