In the last four years, Tanna Cole hasn’t had a day off.
She started her candy empire in 2020, selling bags of tamarindo treats from her parents’ trailer park. A year later, her candy bags were found in a few local stores.
Cole’s persistence and hard work have led her to open up two Tanna’s Botannas locations and a food truck, selling her candy nationwide and collaborating with popular social media influencers, all while raising a newborn.
But Cole isn’t ready to stop there.
Somehow, she has found the time to add a whole new venture to the Tanna’s Botannas family. Not only is she working on opening her son’s first food truck, but she is also opening a pan dulce truck, called Tan Dulce, that will serve up sweet creations using beloved Mexican snacks like Gansitos and Mazapan.
“I'm just super persistent, I always have been,” Cole said. “I've played sports my whole life and I kind of geared that switch into running a business. I was super dedicated when I was younger and wanted to be the best at everything. Now since my name is on the logo, I'm like, OK, I have to give 110% at all times.”
Cole noticed that when children come into the store, they tend to gravitate toward the ice creams or plain chips since the other treats are too spicy for them. That’s when she realized they needed to cater toward people who preferred something sweet rather than tangy.
This specialty item will feature a Belgian waffle and a scoop of ice cream with chocolate and strawberry sauce drizzled on top.
With that in mind, Cole decided to open a pan dulce truck with a Chipotle-esque menu, meaning you get to mix and match to build the sweet treat of your dreams.
For the past three months, Cole has been working on the truck, getting it custom-built in Mexico. She has also been reaching out to local bakeries around town to source the pan dulce, allowing her to help promote another local businesses.
While the menu will allow you to create your own masterpiece, Cole has also been working on perfecting specialty items that customers can order as well. Each of the items incorporate classic Mexican snacks, elevating them into something that is too pretty to eat.
“We offer presentation but without the price,” Cole said.
One of the specialty items will be their take on a banana spilt, but with churros instead. Two churros will house scoops of strawberry, vanilla and chocolate ice cream between them, topped with strawberry and chocolate sauce, chopped nuts and a cherry. The flavors on their specific item mirror Duvalín, a Mexican candy that features the Neapolitan flavors.
One of the menu items is a tres leche and Mazapan cake.
Next up is their Mazapan tres leches cake, a sponge cake that is soaked in three kinds of milk, with icing and crushed Mazapan on top.
Tres leches isn’t the only cake option they will have. Tan Dulce will also have a cheesecake that incorporates Marias Gamesa cookies, which has a slightly sweet flavor.
Gansitos are popular snack cakes covered in chocolate and packed with crème and strawberry filling, making them the perfect treat to add to the menu. Tan Dulce will have a Belgian waffle of the menu, topped with a scoop of ice cream and a chocolate and strawberry sauce drizzle. The specialty item is then completed with a Gansito on the side.
Tan Dulce will also have a cheesecake that incorporates Marias Gamesa cookies.
Last but not least is the concha sandwich. A concha is sliced in half and stuffed with ice cream, fresh strawberries and chocolate sauce, adding a twist on your typical ice cream sandwich.
“I just look at other people's stuff and I'm like, ‘Oh, that's awesome,’ and I give it our own little twist,” Cole said. “We ask customers all the time, what would you want? I think part of our menu is always what customers want. They'll send me viral videos, and they're like, you need to sell this. And I'm like, all right, let me try to first make sure it's good.”
In fact, the name Tan Dulce even came from a customer who answered an Instagram poll about the new truck.
The concha sandwich is a concha sliced in half and filled with ice cream, chocolate and fresh strawberries.
“People are super excited about it,” Cole said. “They’re already asking when we’re going to open and if we’re going to do a weekly special.”
Cole is hoping to get Tan Dulce up and running in September, where it’ll be parked at their south-side location, located at 4426 S. Sixth Ave.
In the meantime, Cole is opening up yet another food truck — this time, it’s her son’s turn.
Thiago’s first food truck will specialize in all the classic ice cream and popsicles seen in your typical ice cream truck. Yes, that means the Bubbles popsicle with gumball eyes will be available. It will open next week and can be found at the south-side location as well.
With more big plans for Tanna’s Botannas in the future, there is truly nothing Cole can’t do.
“I'm just excited really to see the community come together,” Cole said. “I miss having that connection with people, so that's what I'm excited about. I'll get to run it for a little bit and make sure everything's smooth. Then, on to the next.”
