Bird's nest and ginseng are the two most frequently depicted tonic foods in Dream of the Red Chamber; though Tai-yu consumed the most, others ate swiftlet nest as well, for health or for beauty.
燕窩與人參正是紅樓夢全力描寫最多的兩種補品，書中吃燕窩最多的是林黛玉，其次是王熙鳳，她們一個要補，一個為養顏。