The Sui Yuan Shih Tan (a work on edible substances, dating from the Ching dynasty) records: "Swallow's nest is a valuable item, not to be used carelessly." In former times people did not consume the nests the way we do today; even nobles and high officials did not eat them very often.
清朝隨園食單中記載「燕窩貴物，原不輕用」，古人對燕窩的消費，不如今天。當時連達官貴人，亦不常食。