Edible Heritage Tetlauhtilli Nechicōlli

Press Kit

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.