Nido Soup: Delicious Bird’s Nest Soup Of Palawan, Philippines

Are you intrigued by what’s so specific about the famous Nido Soup? Have you ever tried Bird’s Nest Soup? I experienced a prospect to try out the unique delicacy dish referred to as Nido Soup when I visited El Nido, Palawan.  

My household and I visited El Nido, Palawan wherever we met a nearby boatman Vergil Abus and his mom, Clarisse.

Vergel and Clarisse Abus of El Nido, Palawan
Vergil and Clarisse Abus of El Nido, Palawan

Vergil and his mother have been sustainably harvesting the regional Balinsasayaw (swiftlet) bird’s nest as one particular of their household livelihood.  They have a compact army of area nest harvesters identified as “Bushador”.

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Due to the fact El Nido is a safeguarded place of the Philippines, any individual who’s amassing bird’s nests should really have a allow from the regional Division of Atmosphere and Nationwide Resources (DENR) and the area council. It is strictly prohibited to accumulate bird’s nests in El Nido until you have a allow.  The cave hot places where the swiftlets generally go to breed are guarded by the Philippine army and neighborhood police.

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The Bushadors are the kinds who go to different islets and cliffs in Bacuit bay, El Nido to gather only the vacant and unused bird’s nests. They also make non permanent makeshift homes close to the cliffs so they can very easily collect the bird’s nest all through the harvest season. They receive their living dependent on the bodyweight of the total collected bird’s nest through the harvest time. 

Weighing the Bird's nest in El Nido Palawan
Weighing the Bird’s nest in El Nido Palawan

During our check out to the Abus’ home, in which the Bushadors congregate to produce their collected bird’s nest. Every single gram of the bird’s nest is valued at 180 Philippine Pesos or extra relying on the colour purity and grade.

Quality A Grade Ivory White Bird's Nest from El Nido Palawan Philippines
Excellent A-Quality Ivory White Bird’s Nest from El Nido Palawan Philippines

The (ivory white) whiter the fibre of the bird’s nest, the extra costly it is. This is one particular of the livelihoods of the locals other than tourism and fishing.  

Bird’s nest soup origin?

The Bird’s nest soup originates from China. It has been a well-known and high-priced Chinese delicacies. The Chinese began to provide the bird’s nest soup in the course of the Ming Dynasty all around 1,500 yrs back.  Historians considered that the Bird’s nest also known as the Swallow nest was brought to China from Southeast Asia as an imperial gift to the Chinese emperor.

In the Philippines, the Nido Soup is the nearby variation of the Bird’s nest soup and it at first came from El Nido, Palawan.  

El Nido, Palawan is one particular of the key breeding grounds for the “Balinsasayaw” / swiflets. The nests of these birds are primarily found inside the caves and cliffs dotted close to the Guarded Space of Bacuit bay and the inland area of El Nido.

What is the Bird’s nest soup manufactured out of?

Bird's Nest raw fresh from the cliffs of El Nido, Palawan, Philippines
Bird’s Nest uncooked fresh new from the cliffs of El Nido, Palawan, Philippines

The Bird’s nest soup is manufactured out of the solidified saliva of the swiftlets that are usually uncovered and bred in Southeast Asia and China.  These edible bird’s nests are labeled and valued according to their colour and purity. It is classified as one of the most pricey animal products and solutions consumed by humans.

What are the added benefits of having bird’s nest soup?

According to Chinese Eastern Medicine, the edible Bird’s nest aids to market excellent health, generally for the skin to sustain youthfulness and improve the complexion.  Consequently, the Bird’s nest soup is a sought-soon after Chinese delicacy by locals and meals fans. 

Mrs Clarisse Abus cleansing and planning the Bird’s Nest

When I questioned Mrs Clarisse Abus in El Nido, Palawan, she stated that the locals of El Nido appreciate consuming the Nido soup to enable them fortify their immune program specifically when they are recuperating from common diseases like colds and coughs.

Why is Bird’s Nest Soup highly-priced?

The purpose why the Bird’s nest soup is so pricey is owing to its rarity and the method of sourcing the bird’s nest. The swiftlets mate every single year, that’s why the bird’s nest can only be collected when the youthful leave the nest.

This is because of to the strict sustainability guidelines and ordinances of the Local Govt and other Non-Governmental Organisation, that promotes a sustainable way of accumulating the nest and preserving the pure habitat for the Swiftlets.

Second Grade Bird's Nest from El Nido, Palawan, Philippines
Second Quality Bird’s Nest from El Nido, Palawan, Philippines

The colour of the Bird’s nest ranges from golden yellow to ivory white. The leading-quality and ivory white purity colour of the edible Bird’s nest can be marketed for up to hundreds of US bucks for every pound or kilos.  Normally get your Bird’s nest from a good reputable resource to stay clear of counterfeit Bird’s nests.

Fibrous texture of genuine Bird's Nest from El Nido Palawan Philippines
Fibrous texture of genuine Bird’s Nest from El Nido Palawan Philippines

How to verify if the Bird’s nest is serious or pretend:

  • Examine the colour of the Bird’s nest when soaked in drinking water.  The true Bird’s nest really should not stain the drinking water when it is soaked for 1 to 2 several hours in preparation for cooking.  The phony Bird’s nest will go away some artificial colouring on the drinking water.
  • Be aware of the Bird’s nest condition and fibre.  The true Bird’s nest when soaked in h2o will eliminate its condition, will have an uneven fibrous structure and come to be semi-clear.
  • Check the odor of a Bird’s nest.  The genuine Bird’s nest will have a mild fishy smell. The phony Bird’s nest will most possibly have a plastic or chemical or no odor at all.

What does bird’s nest soup style like?

The Bird’s nest soup has a very mild taste that is comparable to a chicken crystal clear soup. The Bird’s nest soup historically has a handful of spices and seasonings that perk up the soup’s flavour.

Our Bird's Nest Soup prepared by Mrs Abus in El Nido
Our Bird’s Nest Soup prepared by Mrs Abus in El Nido

Allow me share with you the Nido Soup recipe that we tried out in El Nido. Well prepared and cooked by Mrs Clarisse Abus for our team making use of the fibrous pieces of Bird’s nest which are regionally known as “Sinisa”.

Nido Bird’s Nest Soup Recipe:

Components:

How to cook dinner:

  • Pour the drinking water into a saucepan and set the packet of the bird’s nest (Sinisa).
  • Combine in the packet of Nido Oriental Model soup base. Blend properly
  • Place it on a hob and bring to a boil with continuous stirring.
  • Allow it simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Whisked the egg in a compact bowl.
  • Increase the egg and stir it carefully with a fork or balloon whisk until eventually the egg is very well dispersed and mixed in the soup.

Added facts:

You can also include onions, spring onions or other sought after veggies to this soup if you required. To add excess flavour to the soup, you can also place a bit of soy sauce.

I hope that excites you to consider the Nido Soup (The Philippine model of the Chinese Bird’s Nest soup).  A fantastic delicacy to try out when you check out El Nido, Palawan.

ABOUT THE Author

Ryazan Tristram EverythingZany Author Bio

Ryazan Tristram

Vacation Writer & Photographer

Ryazan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism and Resort Management. She also has more than 10 a long time of perform working experience gained from working in the resort and journey sectors in Asia and Europe. Her work has been highlighted and published on Huffington Article, Reader’s Digest, Discovery Channel, Globe Journey Guidebook, MSN, CNBC, GMA, Lonely Earth and numerous far more. She is at this time living in the British isles as a twin citizen (British – Filipina). Sign up for her in travelling around the world with a mission to share the very best of the earth.