Malaysia’s First Locally Made Square Pineapple Tarts
Swee Bee Square Pineapple Tarts
The Chinese ‘Fortune’ character embedded onto the surface of the tarts
Swee Bee, a renowned bakery, is proud to introduce its innovative square pineapple tarts with an emblem imprinted on them, the first of their kind in Malaysia.
With a unique design and emblem, Swee Bee Pineapple Tarts are more than just a delicious treat; they represent the rich cultural heritage of Malaysia and the blessings of fortune and prosperity.
What sets Swee Bee apart is not only its square shape but also its attention to detail and mouthwatering taste. The size of the tart is perfectly crafted for a delightful mouthfeel, with a buttery pastry that melts away, blending harmoniously with the sweet and sour notes of the pineapple paste.
Each tart contains the right amount of pineapple fibre for an extra bite, creating a truly satisfying experience.
The Beginning of Swee Bee
David Wong with his mother, Swee Bee making pineapple tarts
The founder, David Wong, assisted his mother, Swee Bee, in baking pineapple tarts for Chinese New Year, at the tender age of 8. This early experience sparked a passion for baking, which led to pursuing a diploma in Hotel & Catering Management.
After leaving the corporate world, David embarked on a soul-searching journey and rediscovered his love for baking. In 2009, armed with his mother’s treasured pineapple tart recipe, David started a home-based business, laying the foundation for what would become Swee Bee.
“The name Swee Bee was chosen to pay tribute to my mother, who guided and supported me throughout my entrepreneurial journey. Swee Bee represents the origin of my baking passion and my gratitude towards my mother for her love and unwavering support,” explained David.
Over the years, Swee Bee expanded its operations, opening Baker Dave in Sri Hartamas in 2012. In 2014, the bakery evolved into Nooks by Baker Dave, a café bakery offering a wide array of Western food, desserts, and coffee.
Nooks, having reached its peak, had an ambitious idea in 2019 to use the pineapple tart as its core product to achieve another milestone and pay homage to David’s mother, Swee Bee.
This led to the rebranding of Nooks as Swee Bee café, offering local delicacies alongside pineapple tarts all year round, and expanding the pastry production facility to be halal-certified.
The café’s transformation was successfully launched in November 2019, despite some loss of loyal customers; the support from regular patrons remained strong.
The café business faced challenges due to the Covid pandemic.
In May 2020, David made the decision to shut it down and shifted their focus toward running the pastry production facility, a move that would prove crucial.
This strategic shift paid off, as the business started operating successfully in July 2020 and ultimately secured its Halal Certification in 2021.
Pineapple Tart Specialist
Swee Bee Pineapple Tarts are certified HALAL and also bring out the rich cultural heritage of Malaysia
What sets Swee Bee’s pineapple tarts apart is not only its square shape but also its attention to detail and mouthwatering taste.
The size of the tart is perfectly crafted for a delightful mouthfeel, with a buttery pastry that melts away, blending harmoniously with the sweet and sour notes of the pineapple paste.
Each tart contains the right amount of pineapple fibre for an extra bite, creating a truly satisfying experience.
Drawing from his childhood memories, David fondly recalled his grandmother calling him a ‘big mouth’ due to his hearty appetite. This memory sparked inspiration from the Chinese proverb “口大吃四方” (big mouth eat four corners) which in turn led to the creation of Swee Bee’s distinctive square pineapple tarts.
The proverb also carries a significant meaning which means one can find a career no matter where they are. Although the square pineapple tarts can be found in Taiwan, what makes Swee Bee’s unique is the word ‘福’ (Fortune) embossed on the pineapple tart.
David explains the inspiration behind the unique design, saying, “The inaugural run of Swee Bee’s Pineapple Tarts in 2010 had a festive touch, incorporating the Chinese ‘Fortune’ character embedded onto the surface of the tarts, specifically for the occasion of Chinese New Year. By embossing the tart with ‘福’ (Fortune), we created the first pineapple tart in Malaysia that is not only square but also carries a blessing for all who purchase or receive it as a gift.”
While pineapple tarts are traditionally associated with festive seasons, Swee Bee believes that blessings should extend beyond these occasions.
Their philosophy, “Blessing Continues Beyond Festivities,” encourages customers to share the gift of Swee Bee Pineapple Tarts throughout the year, for various occasions such as birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and as tokens of appreciation.
Growing the Business
Their impressive cake design, themed “Ethnic Malaysia,” showcased the intertwining cultures of Peranakan, Chinese, Malay, Indian and Iban, with pineapple tarts taking centre stage
Swee Bee aims to be more than just a bakery. They aspire to represent the ultimate gift of Malaysia, loved and shared by Malaysians with the world.
With their cultural significance, Swee Bee Pineapple Tarts have the potential to become a must-have item for tourists visiting Malaysia, showcasing the country’s rich cultural heritage and traditions.
As a testament to their commitment to excellence, Swee Bee was awarded the Gold Award in the Modern Freestyle 3D Cake category at the Malaysia Culinary World Cup 2023.
Their impressive cake design, themed “Ethnic Malaysia,” showcased the intertwining cultures of Peranakan, Chinese, Malay, Indian and Iban, with pineapple tarts taking centre stage.
Availability
The wide range of Swee Bee products goes beyond pineapple tarts
Swee Bee products are available on their website and on Lazada
Customers can also visit Swee Bee’s headquarters in Klang, where walk-ins are welcome.
