Sweet Tatas’ Global Flavour Journey From Sweet Potatoes to Irresistible Plant-Based Pizzas
- Sarah Drews
- Sep 27, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: May 7
Welcome to our new interview series, where I warmly invite you to explore the remarkable stories of entrepreneurs reshaping the wellbeing landscape in South Africa.
Guest: Sweet Tatas
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In this edition of our interview series, we’re thrilled to step into a culinary adventure with the one and only, Sweet Tatas. They’re revolutionising the pizza scene by turning the humble sweet potato into crave-worthy slices, each overflowing with bold global flavours. Discover how this innovative duo is pushing the boundaries of plant-based cuisine and redefining what pizza can be. With a focus on passion, precision, and care, we will be uncovering the story behind this extraordinary brand and seeing what makes every bite stand out.
Victoria & Tamara
Sarah: Sweet potatoes are an innovative and delectable choice for a pizza base! What inspired you to choose them, and how do they enhance both the health benefits and flavour profiles of your pizzas?
Tam & Vic: Sweet potato is a very versatile, easily accessible, and staple ingredient in both our kitchens. One day, doing what we do best in the kitchen, being creative and exploring, we had this crazy idea to turn a sweet potato into a pizza… and the rest is history! Sweet potatoes, or ‘tatas’ as we like to call them, are rich in vitamin A, high in fibre, and support digestion and gut health. They also contain vitamin B6, potassium, and antioxidants...what champions! When developing our unique bases, health, flavour, and texture were front of mind. We wanted to keep our bases gluten-free and as natural as possible without loading them with alternative flours. Enter sweet potato: loaded with nutrients, multi-faceted in use, and flavourful. It all starts with our handmade bases—the foundation upon which each pizza thrives. The base itself is delicious, and the sweet potato adds a subtle and natural sweetness to each bite.
Sarah: Your menu features a range of deliciously creative options, each with a memorable and inventive name. Could you take us on a flavourful journey through the different types of pizzas you offer and their unique, vibrant toppings?
Tam & Vic: Thank you so much for your kind and heartfelt words, Sarah. Each ingredient is carefully considered for its flavour, texture, and nutrient value. Beyond that, we look at how individual ingredients can work together, complement one another, and enhance the pizza as a whole. It takes a village! Our four pizzas highlight amazing tastes inspired by global cuisines.
"We value unity and connection, so it
felt natural to fuse flavours from different cultures
into something uniquely our own."
The process was simple and intuitive: we used ingredients that we love and incorporate regularly into our daily lives. A key consideration for us was ensuring that each pizza is not only delicious but also packed with nutrients. As a plant-based brand, it’s essential that our products provide our customers with the nutrition they need. Drawing on Tam’s experience and expertise as a chef, we made a point of looking at how to elevate classic ingredients. Each ingredient we use is fresh, local, seasonal, and nutritious.
1. HUMBLE WARRIOR
Celebrating diverse Asian cuisines
Exotic mushrooms, avo, vegan kewpie mayo (we were very stoked to find this gem), soya sauce reduction, roasted nori, black sesame seeds, and topped with Nasturtium leaves and flowers.
2. GAIA
Honouring Italian cuisine & Mother Earth
Roasted broccoli, zucchini ribbons, caramelised onions, pesto, balsamic reduction, pumpkin seeds, and because we do not like to waste, after making ribbons from the zucchini, you’re left with a sufficient amount of the zucchini. So, we julienned the remaining zucchini and added grated apple and pesto to sprinkle on top. Topped with locally foraged Suuring/Wood Sorrel.
3. ALCHEMIST
Exploring aromatic Middle Eastern flavours
Roasted butternut, caramelised onions, sun-dried tomatoes, za’atar spice, hummus, roasted chickpeas, and finished with rocket.
4. FORREST FIRE
Inspired by the bold flavours of USA
A spicy and smokey BBQ soya mince, fig chutney, roasted onion petals, and avo; drizzled with BBQ sauce and rocket.
BRINGING THE YUM WITH OUR PLANT-BASED PIZZAS
AND HARVEST TABLES
Sarah: Building a business comes with navigating its various challenges. What’s been one of the toughest obstacles you've faced on this journey, and how did you overcome it?
Tam & Vic: Navigating and overcoming doubt is a big challenge. There’s a big emotional and mental aspect to starting and running your own business, and it’s sometimes extremely difficult to keep pushing and remain positive. For example, we had no sales in the morning of one of our last markets. It was disheartening, but within that we had to remain positive and keep the energy high. So we did what we do best: laugh, and kept it light with some silliness. Lunch time came around, and we got very busy! It’s about pushing through the muddy waters. It also really helps having your best friend by your side! A big part of us overcoming the doubt is the belief we have in our product. We back ourselves and what we have to offer.
Sarah: What’s the most rewarding feedback you’ve received from a customer?
Tam & Vic: It puts a fat smile on our faces when people see our name and read it out loud to themselves or a friend—often emphasizing or giggling at the “TATAS”. People love our name. It’s hard to narrow it down to one person’s feedback. People have been extremely supportive of Sweet Tatas—in what we represent and the food we make. It’s hard not to smile when people make a point of coming back to our stall after eating their pizza to express how much they loved it. The “Wow, those look amazing!”s and “I can’t decide which one I want!”s at markets are always amazing to hear. What truly stands out is the overall sense of excitement when people see and taste our pizzas. A lot of gluten-free, vegan, or plant-based and “healthier” alternatives to traditional pizza are boring, unsubstantial, or lacking in flavour, and many people who opt to eat healthily or have strict dietary requirements miss out on pizza because alternatives are uninspiring. Seeing and experiencing the gratitude and genuine happiness from customers who can bite into an alternative pizza that ticks all the dietary boxes without sacrificing flavour, nutrients, and enjoyment is the best. We’ve won many traditional pizza lovers over too!
Sarah: Your pizzas are outstandingly vibrant in both flavour and colour! What role do you believe the visual appeal of food plays in the eating experience?
Tam & Vic: The visual appeal of food plays a key role in the overall eating experience. It’s often the first thing that captures our attention and builds anticipation before we even taste it. A well-presented dish can make the meal more enjoyable and satisfying. The colours, textures, and presentation can make the food feel fresher, more appetizing, and even more nourishing, creating a connection between how it looks and how we perceive its taste.
Pizza boxes with an extra special touch!
Sarah: What do you hope your customers take away from their experience with your pizzas, beyond just enjoying a meal?
Tam & Vic: That eating healthily or mindfully doesn’t need to be boring or limiting! We celebrate the diversity of plant-based ingredients, and we want to show people how much you can do with them.
Sarah: Count us in! Where can we catch a taste of your pizzas at local markets?
Tam & Vic: You’ll find us at Vegan Goods Market in Tokai on the first Sunday of each month. We’ll also be at Candor Market in Rondebosch on Saturday, 5 October and Saturday, 2 November. We’re looking to expand our market footprint in Cape Town, so watch this space!
If you can’t wait for a market, why not hire Sweet Tatas to cater your next event or gathering? Our mobile oven allows us to set up anywhere, be it a venue or your home, so you and your guests can enjoy our famous pizzas, fresh out of the oven and topped with gourmet goodness. It’s a fun and yummy way to spice up an event.
Email us for bookings: sweettataspizza@gmail.com
We sell our gluten-free sweet potato and oat bases plus our fresh, vegan, and preservative-free Tatas T-Sauce online for delivery in Cape Town. Our bases are pre-baked in our oven and freeze perfectly! Great for pizza night.
If you would like to order some pizza bases & some delicious Tatas T-Sauce, fill out the form.
For more uplifting stories about entrepreneurs who are making an impact in the wellbeing community, stay tuned.
We can’t wait to share more inspiring insights with you!
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