Snow Swallow (Xue Yan)™ — 280 g

Translucent plant-derived gum. Remarkable expansion after soaking. A delicate ingredient for Chinese-style sweet soups and dessert bowls.

Discover Snow Swallow (Xue Yan / 雪燕)—a dried plant-derived gum traditionally prepared through soaking, careful cleaning and cooking.

With 280 g / 9.88 oz, the small, hard dried pieces undergo a remarkable transformation during preparation.

After proper hydration, Snow Swallow becomes:

Larger · Softer · Translucent · Slippery · Gelatinous

Its flavour is naturally very mild and neutral. Its real culinary appeal is:

Expansion · Texture · Transformation

Why You’ll Appreciate It

• 280 g / 9.88 oz — generous dessert-pantry size

• Plant-derived gum — not edible Bird’s Nest

• Dramatic expansion — small dried pieces become much larger after soaking

• Beautiful translucent texture — soft, slippery and gelatinous after preparation

• Very mild flavour — allows other dessert ingredients to shape the final taste

• Traditional dessert use — ideal for appropriate sweet soups and dessert bowls

• Easy to pair — explore with Peach Gum, Snow Fungus, Red Jujube, Goji Berry, Longan or Lotus Seeds

• Distinct ingredient identity — not Peach Gum or Snow Fungus

Product at a Glance

• Product: Snow Swallow (Xue Yan)™

• Chinese name: 雪燕

• Pinyin: Xue Yan

• Also known as: Snow Swallow Gum · Xue Yan Gum

• Ingredient type: Plant-derived gum

• Form: Dried irregular gum pieces

• Net weight: 280 g / 9.88 oz

• Dry appearance: Small · Hard · Irregular · Translucent-to-amber

• After soaking: Expanded · Soft · Translucent

• Prepared texture: Soft · Slippery · Gelatinous

• Flavour: Very mild · Neutral · Delicate

• Category: Traditional Chinese Dessert Ingredient

• Best for: Sweet soups · Dessert bowls · Appropriate cooked desserts

• Preparation: Soak · Inspect · Clean · Cook

• Ready to eat dry: No

Natural Snow Swallow pieces may vary slightly in size, shape, colour and translucency.

What Is Snow Swallow?

Snow Swallow / Xue Yan / 雪燕 is the common commercial name for a dried plant-derived gum used in Chinese-style sweet soups and desserts.

The clearest product identity is:

Snow Swallow · Xue Yan · 雪燕 · Snow Swallow Gum

Despite the English word “Swallow,” the product is:

Plant-Derived

It is not made from birds and is not edible Bird’s Nest / 燕窝.

The Transformation

Snow Swallow's most distinctive feature is its dramatic change during soaking.

Before Soaking

Small · Hard · Compact · Translucent-to-Amber

After Soaking

Larger · Softer · More Translucent · Slippery · Gelatinous

Because Snow Swallow expands substantially, use a sufficiently large container with plenty of clean water and follow the product-specific soaking directions.

The exact expansion varies naturally, so this page does not assign a fixed expansion ratio.

Taste & Texture

Snow Swallow has a:

Very Mild · Neutral · Delicate

flavour.

Its main contribution to a dessert is not sweetness or strong aroma.

Instead, it provides:

Soft · Translucent · Slippery · Gelatinous Texture

The sweetness and broader flavour of the finished dessert usually come from ingredients such as Red Jujube, Longan, Goji Berry or other recipe components.

How to Prepare Snow Swallow

Snow Swallow is not ready to eat directly from the package.

01 · Soak

Place the dried Snow Swallow in plenty of clean water and soak according to the product directions.

02 · Expand

Allow enough space for the small dried pieces to expand substantially.

03 · Inspect

After hydration, carefully inspect the Snow Swallow. Natural debris or darker material may become easier to see.

04 · Clean

Remove visible impurities and rinse thoroughly according to the package directions.

05 · Cook

Cook the cleaned Snow Swallow according to the product directions and recipe.

06 · Combine

Add compatible dessert ingredients.

07 · Enjoy

Serve the finished dessert warm or chilled according to the recipe.

Do not eat Snow Swallow directly from the package in its dry form.

Best Dessert Pairings

Snow Swallow + Peach Gum

Soft translucent gum + amber jelly-like texture

Snow Swallow + Snow Fungus

Gelatinous texture + delicate frilled fungus

Snow Swallow + Red Jujube

Neutral texture + mellow dried-fruit sweetness

Snow Swallow + Goji Berry

Translucent texture + bright berry colour

Snow Swallow + Longan

Delicate texture + richer dried-fruit sweetness

Snow Swallow + Lotus Seeds

Soft gelatinous texture + tender cooked seeds

Prepare each ingredient according to its own directions.

Snow Swallow vs. Peach Gum

These ingredients are often used together but are not the same product.

Snow Swallow / 雪燕

• Plant-derived gum

• Small pale-to-amber dried pieces

• Expands substantially

• Soft, slippery and translucent after preparation

Peach Gum / 桃胶

• Peach-tree-associated gum / resin

• Larger amber resin pieces

• Soft and jelly-like after soaking and cooking

• More obvious amber appearance when dry

A simple buying rule:

Snow Swallow → Smaller Pieces + Slippery Translucent Texture

Peach Gum → Amber Resin + Jelly-Like Texture

Many dessert recipes use both for greater textural variety.

Snow Swallow vs. Snow Fungus

These are also completely different ingredients.

Snow Swallow → Plant-Derived Gum · Soft · Slippery · Gelatinous

Snow Fungus → Edible Fungus · Frilled · Delicate · Soft-to-Slightly-Crisp

The similar word “Snow” does not mean they are botanically related.

Is Snow Swallow Bird’s Nest?

No.

Snow Swallow / 雪燕 is a plant-derived gum.

Edible Bird’s Nest / 燕窝 comes from swiftlet nest material.

They are completely different ingredients.

Is Snow Swallow Collagen?

No.

Its prepared texture may look:

Soft · Translucent · Gelatinous

but:

Gelatinous Texture ≠ Collagen

Snow Swallow should not be marketed as collagen, beauty collagen or an anti-aging ingredient based only on its appearance.

Storage & Care

Before preparation, keep the dried Snow Swallow tightly sealed in a cool, dry place away from moisture, humidity, direct sunlight, excessive heat and strong odours.

Use clean, dry utensils.

After soaking, follow the recipe and product directions regarding cooking, refrigeration and use.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Snow Swallow?

Snow Swallow / Xue Yan / 雪燕 is a dried plant-derived gum traditionally used in Chinese-style sweet soups and desserts.

How much is included?

This package contains 280 g / 9.88 oz of dried Snow Swallow.

Is Snow Swallow plant-derived?

Yes. This product is identified as a plant-derived gum.

Is Snow Swallow made from birds?

No. It is not bird material.

Is Snow Swallow the same as Bird’s Nest?

No.

Snow Swallow → Plant-derived gum

Edible Bird’s Nest → Swiftlet nest material

Does Snow Swallow expand when soaked?

Yes. Substantial expansion during hydration is one of its defining characteristics.

Why should I use a large bowl?

Because the small dried pieces increase significantly in size during soaking.

How long should Snow Swallow be soaked?

Follow the soaking duration provided on the product packaging. This page does not assign a universal soaking time.

Why does it need to be cleaned after soaking?

Natural plant-derived material may contain visible debris or impurities. Hydration makes these easier to identify and remove.

Can I eat Snow Swallow dry?

No. It should be:

Soaked · Inspected · Cleaned · Cooked

before consumption.

What does Snow Swallow taste like?

It has a very mild, neutral and delicate flavour. Its primary culinary appeal is texture.

Is Snow Swallow sweet?

Not by itself. Sweetness generally comes from other dessert ingredients or the recipe.

Is Snow Swallow the same as Peach Gum?

No. They are different ingredients, although they are frequently used together.

Is Snow Swallow the same as Snow Fungus?

No. Snow Swallow is a plant-derived gum; Snow Fungus is an edible fungus.

Is Snow Swallow collagen?

No. Its gelatinous appearance does not make it collagen.

Is Snow Swallow a tea?

No. It is primarily a traditional Chinese dessert ingredient.

What pairs well with Snow Swallow?

Explore appropriate dessert recipes with:

Peach Gum · Snow Fungus · Red Jujube · Goji Berry · Longan · Lotus Seeds

A Beautiful Transformation for the Dessert Bowl

Small dried pieces. Remarkable expansion. A soft, translucent texture after proper preparation.

Soak it. Watch it expand. Inspect and clean it carefully. Cook it according to the product directions, then combine it with your favourite compatible dessert ingredients.

Choose Snow Swallow (Xue Yan)™ — 280 g and add to cart.

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