A Filipino favourite that’s been around for generations is going global
By: Monica
I don’t know if it’s just me but have you noticed the purple drinks, cakes, and desserts that’s been surfacing on your feed lately? And no it’s not Taro. It’s not food colouring. It’s a purple yam which we call in the Philippines, “Ube” (pronounced as ooh-beh).
I’ve been seeing ube on both my algorithm and on cafe and bakery stores. It’s kind of wild seeing something I grew up with suddenly getting trendy. It’s gaining popularity and having its moment right now. And as a Filipino who grew up loving this Ube, let me introduce you to our staple root crop that completes our family celebrations!
So if you’re wondering what ube actually is—it’s a purple root crop that is native in Southeast Asian countries, most commonly in the Philippines. It's naturally super vibrant (like, that colour is 100% real) and it has this subtle sweet, slightly nutty flavour that’s not too strong, which is why it works so well in desserts! A lot of the time, it’s turned into a thick, creamy jam called “ube halaya” (ube yam) that gets used in so many Filipino treats.
My personal favourite is the Good Shepherd which is a popular brand of ube jam in the Philippines. I would say it’s one of the to do list if someone ever goes north to visit Baguio City, they do a stopover at a Good Shepherd store and secure this ube jam!
Ube In Many Forms
Ube has a lot of varieties. From pastries to drinks, you can enjoy its flavour in a lot of ways. You could eat the ube yam as a spread on a sandwich or use it as an ingredient. Here are the popular ones that you might have seen, tried, or want to try:
Ube Cake
Ube cakes have always been eye-catching when I see them on the displays! I grew up eating a soft and fluffy chiffon layered cake but lately there’s been different versions of Ube cake. You can also try Ube Cheesecake and Ube Tiramisu!
2. Ube Ice Cream
There are many brands who caters Ube flavoured ice cream that you can choose from! You can find it more at your local Asian supermarkets. There’s a version called “Ube Macapuno” that you should definitely try if you’re a fan of coconut! It’s a mix of creamy ube and hints of chewy coconut.
3. Ube Cheese Bread
This bread became popular during the pandemic. Many people have tried to bake it in their homes. I, for one, personally baked it before and it’s one of my favourite pastries I’ve ever made! It’s nice to eat during the morning with a hot coffee. It’s a classic twist of our usual morning bread roll called “pandesal”. Best eaten and served hot!
4. Halo-Halo
This is not a variation of ube but a Filipino dessert that uses ube as one of its main ingredients! It’s a combination of shaved ice, milk, coconut, bananas, tapiocas, beans, flan, ube yam, and ube ice cream! Some version includes jackfruit. The Filipino word “Halo” means “mix” in English, so Halo-Halo literally means “Mix-Mix”. You mix together all the ingredients and enjoy its multiple flavours of sweetness! This is very popular during summer time to wave off that heat.
Ube Has Come A Long Way!
Ube has been here for ages. It’s a staple in the Philippines and has had its existence is many different countries before. But lately it’s getting the spotlight and people have been finding out about it for the first time. I feel like ube is kind of following the same path as matcha in some way. Super eye-catching, very aesthetic, and people are curious to try it. It looks good, tastes good, and it’s something different.
Also, fun fact: it’s not just pretty. Ube actually has some nutritional benefits too. It’s a good source of carbs, plus it has potassium and vitamin C.
Seeing ube having its time to shine is honestly really cool for me. It’s something I grew up with, something that reminds me of home, and now everyone’s discovering it and having much more appreciation for it!
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Have you ever heard of this purple yam called “Ube” that’s taking over the internet? Here’s a quick intro to the Filipino favourite and probably would be your favourite too.