CNY cheer for Edible Bird Nest exporters

There is good news for Edible Bird Nest exporters as China officially lifts its ban on the import of the product from Malaysia.

Although only eight companies were given the approval to export Edible Bird Nest, local industry players have described the decision as the best Chinese New Year gift.

Describing the move as timely in view of the upcoming celebrations, Federation of Malaysia Edible Bird Nest Merchant Association president Datuk Tok Teng Sai said that for local players, the lifting of the ban would end the long uncertainty on the fate of the industry.

CNY cheer for Edible Bird Nest exporters

Tok also urged local players to treasure the approval by being honest.

"The fact that China only allows Edible Bird Nest from Malaysia into their country should not be taken for granted. They trust us and with that comes the responsibility to protect Malaysia's name," he said.

Earlier yesterday, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said Malaysia was the only country given the approval to export Edible Bird Nest to China.

The approval letter from China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) was received on Dec 25.

He said the eight companies were from nine which were granted a "conditional pass" to export the delicacy to the republic in June last year.

"It is not easy to pass China's stringent requirements. Since March last year, 15 companies had applied for the approval and nine were given the conditional pass.

"After further auditing by the authorities in China, only eight companies fulfilled the requirements," he told a press conference here yesterday.

Ismail Sabri said the approval was for Raw-clean Edible Bird Nest and the first consignment was expected to leave for China soon.

He said a ceremony to be attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would be held to mark the special occasion.

The Best Types of Edible Bird Nests on the Market

If you’re new to the world of Edible Bird Nests, then you’re probably a little overwhelmed by the choices you have.

There are dozens of websites selling Edible Bird Nests, and all of them seem to have varying ratings for their nests. What is a AAAA nest on one site could be a AAA nest on another site.

While there’s no uniformity in the way Edible Bird Nests are graded, there are basic principles to know which types of Edible Bird Nests are the best

Best Color for Edible Bird Nests

When you’re shopping for Edible Bird Nests based on color, the best edible nest you can buy is red Edible Bird Nests. These nests make up a very small segment of the market; their rarity lends not only to them being sought-after but costing more than all other colors.
The color of the nest was, for many centuries, attributed to a bird’s blood mixed with saliva – this is why they’re also known as blood nests. However, science has revealed the nests get their color as minerals absorbed into the nest mix with air and water.
Reputable sites will sell legitimate red nests, but there are fakes sold by companies who color white nests with sodium nitrate. These nests can be dangerous to your health. You know you have fake blood nests if the color noticeably bleeds while soaking them.

Best Origin for Edible Bird Nests

Edible Bird Nest come from one of two places: in the wild or from farms.
Some will argue that nests from the wild are the best. These nests are harvested from caves or cliffs and, according to some, have a unique flavor profile seasoned by sea air and rock mineral.
This isn’t always the case, as some limestone caves that house swallow nests that don’t get much contact with sea air.
On the other hand, farm-grown Edible Bird Nests are harvested in urban areas, but this doesn’t affect their flavor as much as you would think. The taste nuances of Edible Bird Nests tends to come from the swallow’s saliva.
A great example of this is are red Edible Bird Nests – though some of them get their red color from rock minerals, they don’t have much of a different taste from red nests harvested from farms.

Best Website for Edible Bird Nests

Golden Nest has an excellent customer rating and is, according to those who’ve purchased nests from us, the brand they’d choose over every other American brand.
In fact, 98% of our customers would recommend our Edible Bird Nests to friends and family.

Best Grade of Edible Bird Nests

How a Edible Bird Nest is graded has a big influence on its price – our AAA nests demand high prices because they are of the highest quality.
Most sites will give their best nests a AAA rating and some will do AAAA. Whenever you’re browsing a website for Edible Bird Nests, examine their highest-grade nests very closely.
Is the cup shape a perfect half-moon? Do the fibers seem unorganized or are they flat and uniform? These are indications that the nests are, in fact, high quality and deserve their rating.
As a rule of thumb, the more A’s a nest gets, the better the quality.

Best Overall Edible Bird Nest on the Market

The best Edible Bird Nests combine vibrant colors, excellent quality and are sold by reputable websites. These nests will command the highest prices – often more than $700 for a family-size box – but are worth every penny.
The best Edible Bird Nests on the market will never disappoint. Their numerous health benefits and beautiful texture are just two reasons why Edible Bird Nests are known as the “Caviar of the East”.