Zheng He Discovery

Admiral Zheng He, the great Chinese navigator in the Ming Dinasty (1368 - 1644) is said to be the first Chinese to eat bird's nest. 

During one of his expeditions, his fleet was forced to land at an island due to a big storm. As food supplies, morale, health dwindled , Zheng He discovered the nests on cliffs by chance and ordered his men to collect and cook them. 

Amazingly, the sailors all felt strong, energetic, and looked well in a few days. They collected more bird's nest as a tribute to the emperor.