Why is bird's nest so expensive

First, rarity drives up value. The formation process of bird's nests involves the saliva of swiftlets. Each swiftlet can only produce two to three nests per year, and some of them are wild. Not only is the quantity scarce, but they are also found on cliffs and in remote areas, making them difficult to harvest, thus limiting their supply. Although there are now farms specializing in swiftlet breeding, natural laws cannot be defied.
Labor costs are also very high. Wild bird's nests on cliffs are extremely difficult to harvest, and no one is willing to do it without good reason. Artificial swiftlet farms also require dedicated personnel for cleaning and maintenance, and collecting the nests is very hard work. Not to mention the more than 10 detailed steps involved in sorting, disinfection, cleaning, shaping, packaging, and inspection.
Especially the harvesting of bird's nest, it's practically burning money. A skilled feather picker can only process 7 or 8 nests a day at most. You can see how cheap bleached bird's nest is to understand how expensive labor is.

Moreover, the origin of bird's nest is basically in Southeast Asian countries. If you import it into China, you must pay customs duties. Plus the packaging and sales by domestic companies, the cost is already very high. Cheap bird's nests are not at a normal cost price.
In addition to high costs, the nutritional value of bird's nest is also a factor. Bird's nest mainly contains water-soluble protein, amino acids, and sialic acid. Sialic acid is a precious nutrient in bird's nest. Its most "unique" charm lies in its important role in the development of the central nervous system of the brain, meaning it directly affects the development of the fetal brain, which also directly relates to the future intelligence of the baby.
Bird's nest also contains a beauty gene – epidermal growth factor, which has cosmetic effects, brightens skin tone, maintains skin elasticity, reduces wrinkles and spots, and keeps skin youthful. Therefore, consuming bird's nest has beauty benefits, and this effect is from the inside out, making it less likely to rebound.
Although bird's nest is expensive, consistent long-term consumption can boost immunity, delay aging, and maintain youthful vitality, especially during pregnancy. Consuming bird's nest can promote fetal brain development and enhance immune mechanisms, as well as improve the pregnant woman's physical condition, which is beneficial for childbirth.

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