燕窩 - 燕子之窩 Swallows' Nest – Swallows' House Nest

燕窩即一種燕子的巢, 產自東南亞, 以印尼居多。印尼有約100年的養燕歷史, 是全球的第一燕窩產國, 佔全球70%的產量。 有兩大類型：洞燕、屋燕。 它是分泌的唾液在屋頂橫樑上凝結成的巢, 功效滋陰潤肺、養顏、不寒不燥, 能增強身體免疫能力, 任何人士四季皆宜, 連素食者也可放心進補。

Swallows’ nest is a nest of swallows, produced in Southeast Asia, mostly in Indonesia. Indonesia has about 100 years history of raising swallow; is the first country to produce Swallows’ nest in the world. There are two major types: Cave Nest, and House Nest. It is the secreted saliva condenses into a nest on the roof beam. It’s very good for health by providing with the method of treating “Yin” (In Chinese philosophy medicine, “Yin” and “Yang”, the two opposing principles in nature); beauty, as well as enhance the human immunity. Anyone in any season, even vegetarians can be assured tonic.

早期時, 東南亞有大批到山洞採摘燕窩的人, 不僅人身極其危險, 被採摘後的大自然也被破壞。

In an early stage, many people in Southeast Asia picked the Swallow's nest from the cave. They were not only extremely dangerous physically; the nature was also destroyed at the same time.

後來為了保護大自然, 印尼華人發明的屋燕應運而生。沒有接觸過燕窩生產的人會認為屋燕也許沒有洞燕好？ 有些人甚至會存在這樣的思維：天然的肯定更好。 其實燕窩的好壞跟他築巢的地點關係不大, 只要環境乾淨即可。簡單說, 這些屋燕的結構與普通屋沒有分別, 而養燕子並非養鳥, 它仍是野生的, 靠自己覓食, 屋子只不過是用來吸引燕子聚居, 好讓燕子能把窩築在燕屋裡。

After years, in order to protect the nature, the Indonesian Chinese invented House Nest. People who have not been in contact with bird's nest production would think that House Nest might not be good as Cave Nest? Some people even think: Natural should be better. In fact, the quality of the Swallow's nest is not related to the place to build the nest; as long as the environment clean. Simply say, the structures of these House Nests are not different from those of ordinary houses. Raising swallows are not the same of raising birds; they are still wild and rely on their own feeding. The house is only used to attract the swallows to live so that the swallows can build up their nests in the house.

因此如果有商家告訴你, 洞燕比屋燕貴也更好, 勸你買洞燕, 那麼你可以跟他說bye了。 洞燕雖然是純野生的, 但是長期跟岩石接觸, 會接收岩石的礦物質和微量元素, 因為誰也不能保證裡面的微量元素是什麼, 有沒有超標, 對身體是不是有害, 所以一般洞燕每一盞都是要進行獨立檢測才能出售。

Therefore, if there are businesses telling you that the cave nest is better than the house nest, and advised you to buy cave nest, then it would be better for you to say bye. Although Cave Nest is purely wild, if contacted with the rock for a long period of time may absorb rock’s minerals or some elements, and no one can guarantee if the content of the elements were exceed which might be harmful to the body; so generally each of the Cave Nest must be tested independently before selling out.

《中國國家地理》曾指出: “一些曾經是鳥語天堂的洞燕如今已成為金絲燕的噩夢之地。多建屋燕是保護洞燕的一大措施。”

"China National Geographic" had stated: "Some Cave Nests were not the paradise anymore; they became the place of nightmare now. Building more House Nests are the major measure to protect the caves."

其實屋燕比惡劣環境下的洞燕要清潔飽滿, 細膩潤滑, 營養價值絕不會低於洞燕。

In fact, under the harsh environment, House Nest is much more cleaning, delicate and smooth; as well as the nutritional value would not be lower than the cave nest.

燕窩的操作流程: 燕窩採摘後, 儲藏在0-5°C的冷庫里 → 分等級分揀（根據毛量、顏色以及盞形進行劃分）→ 紫外線消毒, 處理雜質 → 用凈化器處理過的純凈水進行清洗 → 人工進行挑毛 → 挑毛完後檢驗燕窩的乾淨度 → 烘乾 → 定型 → 烘乾 → 最後高溫滅菌, 包裝成品。

Swallows' Nest operational process: After picking, stored in a cold storage 0-5°C → ranking and sorting (according to the hair weight, color, and the form) → UV disinfection, treatment of impurities → purify treatment with purified water → Hair picking manually by human → Check the cleanness after hair picked → drying → finalize → drying → final high temperature sterilization, packaging.

燕窩燉煮及處理方法 (Stewing and handling Method of Swallow’s Nest):

先將燕窩放在清水中浸泡, 使其鬆軟膨脹, 撈起後再用清水洗淨後瀝乾, 然後文火慢燉。 根據不同品種, 其浸泡的時間各不相同, 一般平均約 4-6 小時。

Firstly, soften and expand the Swallows' nest with water, rinse with water and drain after picked up, then stew with slow fire. According to different kind of the Swallows' nest, their soaking time varies, average time is about 4-6 hours.

屋燕一般只燉45分鐘即可, 洞燕需燉三小时或以上; 而黄燕或血黄燕也需燉較長時間。

House Nest is stewed for 45 minutes mostly, and Cave Nest is stewed for 3 hours or more; Yellow Nest and Blood-Red Nest require longer time for stewing.

燉煮注意事項 (Notes for Stewing Swallows' Nest):

• 水量：燕窩泡製好, 倒入燉盅, 水適量, 蓋過燕窩為宜; Water Volume: After the above said handling, putting into the container with proper water volume; covered swallows' nest is appropriate。

• 溫度：先用高火使水沸騰, 然後轉為文火慢燉; Temperature: boil the water with high heat and then simmered.

燉煮中, 可加紅棗、蓮子或枸杞等連冰糖, 成為冰糖红枣炖燕窝。也可隨個人喜好而搭配不同菜餚。

During Stewing, Red Date (or Red Jujube), Lotus seed or Fructus Lycii with crystal sugar could be added as dessert.

如有機會去印尼旅遊可買些回家吃。如需在下幫忙購買, 我亦樂意代購, 皆因我有時都去印尼探親。

If you have the opportunity traveling Indonesia, you can buy some home. If needed my help to purchase, I am more than happy to be the purchaser on behalf of you because I periodically visiting my relatives in Indonesia.