The text Min Hsiao Chi (Notes on Fujian) from the Ming dynasty describes the swiftlet's nest as a delicacy found on islands along the coast of Fujian and Guangdong provinces, collected by fishermen and sold inland.
明代出版的《閩小記》指出，燕窩為閩、粵沿海諸島的特產，漁民採之運入中原出售。