Project name:
Hidden Jade Kueh | Exploratory
Duration:
6 Days K for Kueh Design Workshop in July 2018 at International Design Institute of ZheJiang University
Overview:
Exploratory research on the application of design processes in food design to create a new Kueh that hold a cultural history through the exploration of each ingredient that constitute in a Keuh recipe to the understanding of how the steaming process affect the outcome of the Keuh
Team:
With Yan Zhang Lee & Wu Qiong
Role:
Ideation, Conceptualisation, Design Developments
Hidden Jade Kueh | Exploratory
Duration:
6 Days K for Kueh Design Workshop in July 2018 at International Design Institute of ZheJiang University
Overview:
Exploratory research on the application of design processes in food design to create a new Kueh that hold a cultural history through the exploration of each ingredient that constitute in a Keuh recipe to the understanding of how the steaming process affect the outcome of the Keuh
Team:
With Yan Zhang Lee & Wu Qiong
Role:
Ideation, Conceptualisation, Design Developments
Background
The Kueh workshop exposes me to the application of design approaches in food design. From the exploration of each ingredient that constitute in a Kueh recipe to the understanding of how the steaming process affect the outcome of the Kueh, we are asked to create a new Kueh that holds a cultural history.
Exploration Process: Understanding of Ingredients
We were tasked to get fun and dirty in exploring the different ingredients used normally in a Kueh recipe and there were definitely many questions we have asked ourselves.
How each ingredients react to the steaming process?
Can we possibly add a new ingredient?
How the new ingredient changes the way the Kueh is formed or shaped?
The list goes on...
With the understanding of how the steaming process affects the way it takes its form, the insights we got from our numerous explorations further drive us in attaining the desired shape in with a more controlled environment.
The Kueh workshop exposes me to the application of design approaches in food design. From the exploration of each ingredient that constitute in a Kueh recipe to the understanding of how the steaming process affect the outcome of the Kueh, we are asked to create a new Kueh that holds a cultural history.
Exploration Process: Understanding of Ingredients
We were tasked to get fun and dirty in exploring the different ingredients used normally in a Kueh recipe and there were definitely many questions we have asked ourselves.
How each ingredients react to the steaming process?
Can we possibly add a new ingredient?
How the new ingredient changes the way the Kueh is formed or shaped?
The list goes on...
With the understanding of how the steaming process affects the way it takes its form, the insights we got from our numerous explorations further drive us in attaining the desired shape in with a more controlled environment.
1. Different types of flour
Studied how the different types of flour - all-purpose flour, potato starch flour will affect the shape during the steaming process. 2. Different steaming process Ventured on modifying the steaming process - closed lid & open lid. The Kueh tend to curl itself when is open steamed, leaving nice curls at the rim. 3. Water : Flour ratio Played with the water and flour ratio. More flour over water will give the Kueh a more translucent finishing whereas more water over flour will give a more transparent look. |
Exploring on Transparency
Inspired by Chinese translucent Kueh like Soon Kueh, our team decided to explore on transparency is Kueh as we noticed there isn't any transparent Kueh yet. To achieve the transparent look, our team decided to keep the ingredients to the minimum.
Inspired by Chinese translucent Kueh like Soon Kueh, our team decided to explore on transparency is Kueh as we noticed there isn't any transparent Kueh yet. To achieve the transparent look, our team decided to keep the ingredients to the minimum.
Exploring on Textures
We added Sesame paste to inject new texture to enhance the Kueh's taste and further explored on how the steaming processes will affect the texture of the sesame paste. Open steaming enables the sesame paste to solidify giving a rough texture at the top, leaving the bottom side of the Kueh to have a contrasting glossy texture. The dual texture Kueh will give a different eating experiences to people.
Hidden Jade Keuh
Cultural story
During the Sui Dynasty, there was a dark-skinned woman whose name called "A-yu". She was kind and gentle, but she was laughed at because of her ugly appearance. She has long admired a handsome and talented man "Ahua" in her neighborhood, but she was afraid that the man would reject her due to her ugly appearance, and she never dared to confess her feelings to Ahwa. So A-yu thought of a way to test Ahua, she made a unique cake. The surface of this cake is very ugly, like charcoal, but beneath it is crystal clear, and there is a "jade ring" hidden in it, which tastes good . She gave this cake to Ahua, and wanted to see if Ahua would ignore the cake because of its ugly appearance, or whether he would ignore its ugliness and eventually find the beauty hidden in the cake. Ahua did not care about the ugliness of the cake after receiving it. When he saw the "heart" of the Keuh, he realised it was A-yu's confession to him, and eventually they got together.
Cultural story
During the Sui Dynasty, there was a dark-skinned woman whose name called "A-yu". She was kind and gentle, but she was laughed at because of her ugly appearance. She has long admired a handsome and talented man "Ahua" in her neighborhood, but she was afraid that the man would reject her due to her ugly appearance, and she never dared to confess her feelings to Ahwa. So A-yu thought of a way to test Ahua, she made a unique cake. The surface of this cake is very ugly, like charcoal, but beneath it is crystal clear, and there is a "jade ring" hidden in it, which tastes good . She gave this cake to Ahua, and wanted to see if Ahua would ignore the cake because of its ugly appearance, or whether he would ignore its ugliness and eventually find the beauty hidden in the cake. Ahua did not care about the ugliness of the cake after receiving it. When he saw the "heart" of the Keuh, he realised it was A-yu's confession to him, and eventually they got together.
Taste Verdict
The crispness of black sesame and the smooth texture of potato starch flour create a rich layered taste. With one bite, you get to taste the softness and crispness. After two bites, the fragrance of black sesame spreads in the mouth. The "jade circle" in the heart of the Keuh makes people pleasantly surprised when eating it. The judges also heard that the inspiration for the creation of Hidden Jade Keuh was originated from a historical love story. Highly recommend those young couples to try it out.
Personal Thoughts
It was en enriching 6 days workshop that changed my perception towards exploratory projects as I get to break down the different ingredients and understand their own properties. The 'hidden jade' Keuh is designed to give the user a dual sensation while eating it, as the top is dry and grainy whilst the bottom is chewy and moist. The different textures enable two different perspectives of the kueh.
The crispness of black sesame and the smooth texture of potato starch flour create a rich layered taste. With one bite, you get to taste the softness and crispness. After two bites, the fragrance of black sesame spreads in the mouth. The "jade circle" in the heart of the Keuh makes people pleasantly surprised when eating it. The judges also heard that the inspiration for the creation of Hidden Jade Keuh was originated from a historical love story. Highly recommend those young couples to try it out.
Personal Thoughts
It was en enriching 6 days workshop that changed my perception towards exploratory projects as I get to break down the different ingredients and understand their own properties. The 'hidden jade' Keuh is designed to give the user a dual sensation while eating it, as the top is dry and grainy whilst the bottom is chewy and moist. The different textures enable two different perspectives of the kueh.