A Rival to Matcha Has Emerged, Ube Has Turned the Cafes of the Emirates Purple

If we have been living with Matcha for the past few years, it might be time to get acquainted with a purple rival: Ube.

This sweet treat, originally from the Philippines, has gradually become one of the new trends in the cafes of the Emirates due to its striking purple color, soft and velvety texture, and sweet taste; ranging from cold and hot drinks to cookies, pies, and cheesecakes.

At Nina’s Bakes, Christina Tamayo, the Filipino owner of this establishment, considers Ube part of her childhood memories and now incorporates it into her desserts. One of the most popular examples is the Ube and white chocolate cookie priced at 25 AED, filled with Ube Halaya, a type of soft and jam-like paste made from cooked and mashed yam.

In Dubai, Nette has even placed Ube alongside Matcha. The Ube Matcha drink, priced at 36 AED, is a unique blend of the earthy flavor of Matcha and the sweetness of Ube. The Cloud Ube drink is also made with coconut water, Ube, and oat milk, providing a lighter option to get acquainted with this flavor.

Nette's menu also includes Ube cookies with coconut cream cheese priced at 30 AED and Ube Basque cheesecake priced at 50 AED; a dessert served with coconut and vanilla cream, miso butterscotch sauce, and toasted coconut.

At Jun’s, Ube has also made its way into several items; from the 55 AED Ube coconut pie and the 30 AED Ube flan cookie to the 35 AED Ube Calamansi Spritz drink.

Kelvin Chung, the chef at Jun’s, says Ube could become as globally popular as Matcha; especially since, unlike many trending drinks, it is caffeine-free. He also believes that the popularity of such foods can help audiences become more familiar with the culture and culinary traditions behind them.

It seems that Matcha is not the only popular green food in cafes for now; these days, if you encounter a completely purple drink or dessert on the menu of an Emirati cafe, Ube is likely involved.
Source: National News