Anyone driving through southern Thai cities such as Surat Thani, Chumphon or Songkhla will often notice unassuming concrete buildings. I have also seen such houses in Sichon, in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province – usually windowless, grey, and with no obvious purpose.
But behind these walls lies a billion-dollar business: the production of edible bird’s nests.
Concrete Blocks with a Secret
Travelling through southern Thailand, one repeatedly comes across strange, windowless concrete blocks. Standing apart from village centres, they look like abandoned warehouses or unfinished buildings.
But appearances are deceptive: inside are swiftlet houses, purpose-built for the birds to construct their valuable nests.
Bird’s Nests Across Southeast Asia
Edible bird’s nests are not an exclusively Thai phenomenon. These specialised buildings can also be found in other Southeast Asian countries. Indonesia is regarded as the world’s largest producer, followed by Malaysia and Vietnam. Swiftlet houses are also increasingly being built in Cambodia and Myanmar.
What Are Edible Bird’s Nests?
These are the nests of a species of swiftlet, which builds its home almost entirely from saliva. For centuries, such bird’s nests have been considered a delicacy in Chinese and Thai cuisine. Prepared in soups or desserts, they are believed to boost energy, rejuvenate the skin, and promote overall health.
Swiftlets – Small Birds of Great Value
The producers of these edible nests are swiftlets, a species often mistaken for swifts. Unlike many other birds, they do not build their nests from twigs or grass but almost entirely from their saliva, which hardens in the air into a solid, translucent substance.
Swiftlets live in large flocks, fly at remarkable speeds, and feed on insects they catch in mid-air. They normally build their nests in coastal caves. As demand has soared, people have created artificial breeding sites – swiftlet houses – that mimic natural conditions as closely as possible.
From Cave to House
In the past, nests were harvested from steep coastal caves – a dangerous task that often claimed lives. Today, many cities feature specially constructed buildings designed to replicate the interior of a cave:
- Kept Dark and Cool
- With wooden slats on the walls for the birds to build on
- Often equipped with speakers that mimic swiftlet calls to attract flocks
Swiftlets in Coastal Caves – A Dangerous Harvest
The direct harvest from steep coastal and karst caves takes place in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and occasionally in Thailand, where men collect the valuable nests under life-threatening conditions.
The most prized bird’s nests come directly from coastal caves where swiftlets have been breeding for centuries. These caves are often perched on sheer cliffs, accessible only by boat or treacherous climbing paths.
Nest harvesting is extremely risky: men climb bamboo ladders or ropes, sometimes dozens of meters high, to detach the fragile nests from the smooth rock walls. One wrong step or a broken bamboo pole can mean a deadly fall. Many families pass down the knowledge of nest harvesting from generation to generation, yet serious accidents still occur.
From Cave to Soup
The most well-known preparation is bird’s nest soup, a luxury dish in Chinese and Thai cuisine. The dried nests are soaked in water, giving them a gelatinous, almost translucent texture. They are then added to clear broths, sweet desserts, or tonics.
Beyond soup, bird’s nests are also used in drinks and sweets, sold in upscale restaurants or specialty shops across Asia.
Why Bird’s Nests Are So Valuable
The demand is driven not only by culinary appeal but also by their reputation as a health and beauty aid. They are believed to smooth and rejuvenate the skin, strengthen the immune system, and boost energy and vitality.
Although scientific evidence remains disputed, bird’s nests are still regarded as one of the most precious animal-derived ingredients in Asian cuisine.
A Lucrative Business
A kilo of edible bird’s nests can cost several thousand euros. It’s no wonder that entire communities make a living from the nest business. In some coastal towns, there are streets where almost every other building is a so-called “bird’s nest house.”
Each Nest a Piece of Gold
For the people who harvest bird’s nests, each nest is more than just food – it is a small piece of gold. Even a single nest can fetch several hundred euros, securing a family’s livelihood. It’s no wonder that the construction of swiftlet houses, the care of the nests, and the harvesting are carried out with such meticulous attention.
A Costly Delicacy
Edible bird’s nests are among the most valuable foods in the world. Even a single nest can be worth several hundred euros. Prices vary depending on quality and origin:
- A simple nest with minor impurities costs around €2,000–5,000 per kilogram.
- Cleaned nests fetch between €5,000–10,000 per kilogram.
- The very best specimens – light in colour, perfectly shaped, and exceptionally pure – can even reach up to €15,000 per kilogram.
What Does Bird’s Nest Soup Taste Like?
Those trying bird’s nest soup for the first time are often surprised: the nest itself has very little flavour. It is neither salty nor sweet, but almost neutral. Its appeal lies in the unique texture – slightly gelatinous, soft yet delicately springy, similar to glass noodles or jelly.
The actual taste of the soup comes from the ingredients it is prepared with: chicken broth, coconut milk, ginger, or sweet versions with sugar and dates. For many gourmets, it is precisely this delicate, almost translucent texture that gives the dish its luxury and uniqueness.
Luxury to Go – Bird’s Nests at ICONSIAM
Those wishing to buy bird’s nests don’t need to travel to remote villages – in Bangkok, they are available in select shops at the luxury mall ICONSIAM. There, the nests are offered in elegant packaging, often as gift sets or for personal culinary enjoyment.
Pak Phanang – Thailand’s Center of Bird’s Nest Condos
In Pak Phanang, on the coast of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, one can see a particularly large number of the so-called Bird’s Nest Condos. Over the past decades, the town has developed into a center for these special bird houses, as the humid sea air and the tranquil surroundings provide ideal conditions for swiftlets. Today, the plain-looking buildings shape the townscape and stand as a symbol of a lucrative, though controversial, business.
A Piece of Living Culture
Whether one sees bird saliva as a remedy or an exotic curiosity, bird’s nests are a fascinating example of how tradition, nature, and commerce intertwine in Thailand.