Bizarre Cultural Foods You Won't Find In Your Local Restaurant

Bird’s Nest Soup

As the name suggests, bird's nests are actually used to make bird's nest soup, though these are not the typical kind of bird's nest. Edible bird’s nests are made by a type of bird called the swiftlet. These birds use their saliva to make the nest, and once their saliva solidifies, the nests are ready for occupation and, yes, consumption. Black, red, and white varieties are harvested from inside limestone caves. The male birds create these nests on the cave walls during their breeding season. Once they're empty, the nests are harvested for consumption. Made in large amounts, the bird’s nest soup is a Chinese delicacy. It’s not so much the flavor, that draws the attention to this soup, but rather the gel-like texture of it. This is precisely why many chefs avoid using strong flavors to avoid masking this unique texture.