Owner of well-loved tu tu kueh store that moved from Clementi to Havelock dies at 63

The owner of Tan's Tu Tu Coconut Cake, Tan Bee Hua, has passed away on Jul. 29.

She was 63.

The store announced Tan's passing "with a heavy heart" on its Facebook page.

"She always loves her job and took pride in perfecting her Tu Tu kuehs to contribute to Singapore's rich food heritage," said the store.

"She will always live in our memories."

Legacy

Tan's Tu Tu Coconut Cake used to have two stores, one at Block 449 Clementi Avenue 3 and another at Havelock Road Cooked Food Centre.

However, in February 2023, its Clementi outlet was permanently closed, and she temporarily closed the Havelock Road store till July 2023.

Tan ran both stores over the years — working at the Havelock Road store in the morning before heading to the Clementi store in the evening, according to a post on the Facebook group Can Eat! Hawker Food.

She had quit her 20-year corporate job to continue the family business.

Speaking to Our Grandfather Story, Tan shared that she inherited the stall from her father, who came to Singapore from the county of Hui'an under Fujian province in 1932.

According to Tan, her father was one of the pioneers of selling tu tu kueh in Singapore.

The shape of the cake was inspired by the shape of chrysanthemums, which Tan's father used to boil tea.

Tan also explained that, initially, the cakes were made out of plain rice flour with no fillings.

However, over time, her family started adding coconut and peanut fillings, as well as placing the cakes on pandan leaves.

These innovations eventually gave the snack its unique Singaporean flavour that we have come to know today.

In February 2022, the family business celebrated its 90th anniversary, as noted on its Facebook page.

Top photos via Tan's Tu Tu Coconut Cake at Havelock Road/Facebook