    edible bird's nests are bird nests that are prepared and eaten by humans, particularly prized in chinese culture due to their rarity and exquisite flavor. they are among the most expensive animal products consumed by humans, with an average nest selling for $2,500 per kilogramme for end-consumers in asia. the nests have been used in chinese cooking for over 400 years, most often as bird's nest soup. ==etymology== the chinese name for edible bird's nest, yÃ n wÅ (ççª), translates literally as "swallow's (or swift's) nest", and often serves as a synonym for bird's nest soup. however, yÃ n wÅ strictly speaking is the uncooked nest. ==culinary use == the most famous use of edible birds nest is bird's nest soup, a delicacy in chinese cuisine. when dissolved in water, the birds' nests have a gelatinous texture used for soup or sweet tong sui. it is mostly referred to as "yan wo" unless references are made to the salty or sweet soup in chinese cuisine. in addition to its use in soup, edible birds nest can be used as an ingredient in many other dishes, it can be cooked with rice to produce bird's nest congee or bird's nest boiled rice, or it can be added to egg tarts and other desserts. a bird's nest jelly can be made by placing the bird's nest in a ceramic container with minimal water and sugar (or salt) and double steamed. ready to eat bird's nest jelly is available in jars as a commercial product. ==harvesting== the most heavily harvested nests are from the edible-nest swiftlet or white-nest swiftlet (aero
Cantonese_cuisine Chinese_soups Hong_Kong_cuisine