How to Differentiate Real Bird's Nest from Fake Bird's Nest?

In general,

Fake Bird’s Nest: usually made up of pig’s skin, seaweed, white fungus, or some other harmful materials. Usually the nest is not clear and will reflect light easily. Its does not contain nest threads and will release oil film on the water surface when soaking.

Real Bird’s Nest: should be in a natural shape and should retain a little bit of a fishy smell of the swiftlet’s saliva. When properly cooked, it will release a light aroma similar to the aroma of an egg white.

Bird's Nest Characteristics:

1. Smell

Fake Bird's Nest: No smell or other kinds of unnatural smell

Real Bird's Nest: Fishy smell like egg white smell due to the bird's saliva

2. Transparency

Fake Bird's Nest: Not transparent, reflective of light

Real Bird's Nest: Semi-transparent

3. Water Content

Fake Bird's Nest: High in water content

Real Bird's Nest: Dry

4. Fragility

Fake Bird's Nest: Very fragile, breaks into large chunks

Real Bird's Nest: Very fragile, dust sized pieces, breaks into small specks

After soaking in water for approximately 30 minutes,

5. Shape

Fake Bird's Nest: Bumpy surface arranged uniformly or highly transparent

Real Bird's Nest: No distinctive shape with the nest fibers easily recognized and occasional feather stuck within the fibers

6. Color

Fake Bird's Nest: Artificial colorings of nest cause the discoloring of the nest into the water

Real Bird's Nest: Water remains clear throughout soaking of bird's nest

7. Foaming in the Water

Fake Bird's Nest: No foaming appears on the surface of the water when stirred and water remains clouded and murky

Real Bird's Nest: Foaming appears on the surface of the water when stirred while water remains clear

8. Absorptivity

Fake Bird's Nest: No significant growth in size. 

Real Bird's Nest: Bloated to about twice its original size