Sweet Tooth to Shut Down on May 29, Expect Big Dessert Discounts in the Interim

Bitter news for Beijing's sugar fiends: Sweet Tooth will shut down its tasty operations on May 29.

Meilian Tan, the café and dessert delivery business' founder and co-owner, cites "family reasons" for the closure, and adds that she is looking forward to returning to her native Australia after spending a decade in China's capital.

Tan (or "Mei", as she has been affectionately nicknamed by friends and longtime customers) adds that she cherished "the opportunity to do something I'm so passionate about, knowing I had filled a void in (Beijing's F&B scene) and being able to introduce new tastes to the local market."

Tan has been satisfying Beijingers' hankerings for such sugary fare since 2011, when she first set up her Sweet Tooth delivery business from her apartment. Within two years her cookies, mini Oreo cheesecakes, cake pops and more became so popular that Tan decided to open a café in Dongzhimen. She also broadened her repertoire beyond desserts to include toasted paninis, bagel sandwiches, salads, pastas, imported tea and coffee, milkshakes, and more.

Between now and the May 29 closure, Sweet Tooth will be offering a swath of specials on many of its menu items (she was offering pots of tea for half price and buy-four-get-two-free cupcakes this past weekend, for instance). Keep up-to-date on those discounts via the business' WeChat (ID: 150 1121 7173). Tan adds that she is eager to hear proposals from any food and beverage vets interested in taking over the business after she leaves Beijing. Hopefully one of the capital's dessert experts will carry on Sweet Tooth's sugary legacy – otherwise we foodies will be left with a sad, insatiable craving.

Photos: Sweet Tooth