Yanwo is one of the precious medicinal materials. It was first recorded in the "Ben Jing Feng Yuan". It has the effects of nourishing yin, moisturizing dryness, and replenishing qi. It is a holy product for treating deficiency and tuberculosis, and has the functions of appetizing qi, treating bloody dysentery, and benefiting children's smallpox. It is also a high-level delicacy for banquets.
Golden Swallow has a dark brown beak with brown spots on the cheeks. It is about 10cm long, with a brown back and golden sheen; the tail is white, and the wing tips extend about 3-4cm beyond the tail. Its legs are slender and weak, with all four toes pointing forward.
It mostly inhabits subtropical coasts and nests on steep rocky islands. It has strong flying ability but is not good at walking. It feeds on seaweed, abalone larvae, and various flying insects.
Origin and Distribution
It is mainly produced in coastal islands such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Japan; it is also distributed in Fujian, Guangdong, and Hainan Island, China.
Identification Points
To identify genuine Yanwo, three points should be mastered: First, the appearance should be naturally grown, with a glossy color and arranged in a silky wave-like pattern; second, it should have a concave and net-like structure (original Yanwo may have a small amount of feathers); third, it should not dissolve easily when stewed for a long time, and should be crispy and smooth when chewed, with a unique Yanwo smell.
Quick Identification
Yan Zhan is an irregular crescent shape, about 7-10cm long and 3.4cm wide, and is concave in a net-like structure. The outer surface is white or yellowish-white, with a layer of sticky mucus, arranged neatly, and the raised surface is delicate and wavy. It is hard and brittle, and the cross-section is similar to keratin.
In terms of quality, Newzhou Yan Zhan has a large and thick sac, yellow-white and glossy, and the net structure is full. Longya Yan Zhan with thin meat and no resistance to stewing is considered inferior. Suzhuang Yan Zhan and Yanbian Yan Zhan are often smoked with sulfur, and the meat is thin or the heads are small, indicating lower quality. Yan Qiu (also called Yan Bing) is made by soaking and processing broken pieces.
