The New Trending Ingredient: Ube – A Type of Purple Sweet Potato

Consumer Experience

After a year filled with matcha beverages, the ingredient that is rapidly gaining traction is ube. Ube is a type of light-purple sweet potato originating from the Philippines, with a mildly sweet, nutty flavor. The ingredient gives beverages an intriguing purple hue while also adding a health touch, as it is rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, and potassium.

Ube is used in coffee, cocktails, chocolate drinks, cakes, baked goods, and more. Amid the growing trend, ube-based beverages can already be found in major global coffee chains such as Starbucks, Pret, and Costa.

As the trend continues to expand, concerns over supply shortages are increasing, as global ube cultivation is currently insufficient to meet rising demand.

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