Edible Heritage Fitaovana Fanomezana by E G Sain

Edible Heritage Fitaovana Fanomezana by E G Sain is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Volafotsy in Famolavolana Fonosana Competition Category.

VolafotsyFonosana· 2026

Edible Heritage Fitaovana Fanomezana

by E G Sain

Client: E G Sain

A' Design Award Volafotsy Winner in Fonosana Category

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Verified Award Winner
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Colors

The Design

About Edible Heritage Fitaovana Fanomezana

Ity tetikasa famolavolana ity dia mampifandray ny lova tamin'ny taonjato faha-18 amin'ny kolontsaina fanomezana ankehitriny. Nahazoana aingam-panahy avy amin'ny Sora-tanana Sinkang tamin'ny 1774, io asa io dia mampiditra ny fiteny Hokkien izay tandindomin-doza ao anaty fitaovana fanomezana castella tantely. Amin'ny alalan'ny fandikana indray ny arisiva sy ny fonosana maharitra, ny famolavolana dia mampifandray ny varotra an-dranomasina manan-tantara amin'ny fahaizana mikojakoja sakafo. Amin'ny fanindronana ireo sora-tanana mivantana eo amin'ny velaran'ny mofomamy, dia manova ny asa-soratra manan-tantara ho traikefa azo tsapain-tanana izany. Ny fampidirana ireo vavolombelona vehivavy manan-tantara dia mamorona fifandraisana havaozina eo amin'ireo taratasy fananan-tany fahiny sy ny fiainana andavanandro.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Volafotsy

Nandresy ny A' Design Award Volafotsy ny famolavolana Edible Heritage Fitaovana Fanomezana, fankasitrahana malaza be omena ny famolavolana ambaratonga ambony, tsara tarehy ary mahavariana. Ny mpandresy Volafotsy dia asa mamirapiratra dia mamirapiratra ary mamorona dia mamorona izay maneho ny fahaizana, ny talenta ary ny fahamaotinan-tsain'ny mpamolavola azy. Andrasana ho asa mahagaga, ohatra tsara, mahay amin'ny asa ary vaovao amin'ny halalin-tsaina ny famolavolana Edible Heritage Fitaovana Fanomezana. Ity famolavolana nandresy ny A' Design Award Volafotsy ity dia fikarohana miavaka be ary ankafizina izay mahasoa ary mampandroso ny sisintanin'ny zavakanto, ny siansa, ny famolavolana ary ny teknolojia. Ny famolavolana Edible Heritage Fitaovana Fanomezana dia famoronana mahazo fitaka be izay mamaly ny faniriana, mitondra fihetseham-po tsara ary mamelona fahagagana sy fahatalanjonana.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This cultural gift set imprints endangered Taiwanese Hokkien directly onto food, turning language into a sensory experience that can be seen, tasted, and shared. Transparent stickers placed on the cake can be kept and applied to daily objects, allowing language and emotion to continue after the dessert is gone. The packaging uses FSC-certified paper and plant-based inks to support responsible production.
Dimensions & Packaging: Outer box: approx. 240 x 200 x 75 mm. Contains two honey castella cakes, 186g each, total 372g. The inner box includes two mother-tongue stickers and the outer box includes a Mother's Day greeting card. Main materials include FSC-certified paper, plant-based inks, transparent sticker film, and honey castella baked with traditional wooden-box technique.
Tags: Taiwanese Hokkien, endangered language, honey castella, Castella, language revival, Siraya, cultural gift, food heritage, sustainable packaging
Production Technology: Materials: FSC-certified paper, plant-based inks, and natural pine wood boxes. Craftsmanship: Following traditional methods, the cake is baked in a pine wood box to retain moisture and infused with natural longan honey.
Design Challenge: The main challenge was translating a historically significant manuscript into a contemporary gift set while balancing historical authenticity, emotional warmth, and commercial appeal. Another challenge was turning the serious issue of mother-tongue loss into an experience that feels approachable, giftable, and memorable rather than remaining an abstract cultural slogan.
Research: This project combines historical research, linguistic inquiry, and material study. Research focused on Sinkang Manuscripts, the history of language writing in Taiwan, Siraya culture, sugar trade routes, the link between Taiwanese sugar and Castella, and the use of FSC-certified paper and plant-based inks. The key insight was that language preservation could enter everyday life through food, gifting, and sensory interaction.
Inspiration: Inspired by a rare 1774 Sinkang Manuscript preserved for generations in the Creative Director's family. Written in Romanized Indigenous language, it provides an early historical basis for language writing in Taiwan. The land recorded in the deed once grew sugarcane, later refined into sugar and shipped to Nagasaki for Castella. This honey cake continues that craft lineage as a contemporary cultural translation.
Project Duration: This project was launched in Tainan at the end of 2025 to conduct linguistic research AND concept development. In January 2026, Taipei continued to conduct archival research, creative refinement, packaging design, and prototyping. From historical research to commercial photography, the project was completed in March 2026 and combined 250 years of heritage with contemporary design in just over three months.
Operation Flow: Upon opening, users find two mother-tongue stickers and honey cake imprinted with phrases. Through sight and taste, the mother tongue enters the senses. The transparent stickers can be applied to notebooks or daily objects, allowing the blessings and language to linger in everyday life and extending a brief culinary moment into a lasting cultural connection.
Team Members: Creative Director: Yeh I Chun
Associate Design Director: Tseng Yu Ting
Designer: Lin Yu Pei
Designer: Hung Wan Lun