TUTU’S KOOKIES

BY THARUSHA PERERA

- BY JESSICA MATHIASZ

In 2020, while the world was locked down, one Sri Lankan IT professional discovered an unexpected passion—decorated cookies.

What started as a lockdown experiment became Tutu’s Kookies, a brilliant cookie business blending art, flavour, and serious tech-like precision. We sat down with the founder to chat about his unexpected and delicious career pivot.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND. HOW DID YOU GET INTO BAKING?

It's a long story! (laughs) My background is actually in IT. I studied information systems and business management, then worked in the industry for about four years.

Baking wasn’t even on my radar until COVID hit. Like a lot of people stuck at home, I started scrolling through Instagram and stumbled on these beautifully decorated cookies. I thought, I could do this.

I've always loved art, I used to paint as a kid, so the idea of combining food and creativity just clicked. I spent months experimenting with recipes, trying to adapt them to Sri Lankan tastes and ingredients. By June 2020, I had my first proper batch ready. My very first sale was a set of ice cream-themed cookies for a colleague. She paid me, and I was like, Wait, people will actually buy these? After that, I didn’t look back. Cookies became my passion and profession.

WHAT'S THE SPECIALTY OF TUTU’S KOOKIES?