The pretty green matcha drinks and yellow turmeric lattes maybe left behind on social media in 2026 as a fresh, new purple nectar is getting people hooked.
If your Instagram feeds haven't been dotted with people sipping on a mysterious purple drink, you need to up your doomscrolling game. The drink we are talking about are ube lattes. If you are completely clueless, keep scrolling here:
What is ube and why it could knock matcha lattes out of people's hands?
Credit: Instagram/ohsoeasy.co
Ube (pronounced oo-bay), or purple yam, is a tuber which is mainly native to Southeast Asia, especially Philippines, India, and French West Indies. The colourful sweet potato is not just a pretty item of produce. The thick and flesh tuber is prized for its soft textured and delectable vanilla-like inherent sweetness.
When it comes to taste, matcha is controversial (I'll die on this hill). The inherent sweet flavour of ube-based drinks is perhaps one of the reasons why its standing as a formidable contender to matcha.
Social media has a knack to pin down the next 'it' beverage that appears even remotely exotic. It began with chai tea lattes, had a pitstop at boba teas, and camped at matcha station.
Credit: Instagram/shreyhaw
When you were contemplating what to order between bitter and grassy matcha latte and melodiously sweet boba, ube popped up on the menu. And it isn't going anywhere.
Thanks to ube's nutty, vanilla flavour (matcha could never), long-lasting, caffeine-free burst of energy that does not leave you feeling restless and versatility, ube may finally get the recognition it deserves.
Is ube 'have-it-everyday' healthy?
Not many know but ube, a staple in Filipino cuisine, is traditionally used in desserts. From the farms of Philippines, it has found its way into cheesecakes in the UK, lattes in Parisian cafes, and doughnuts in New York. The global demand suddenly surged so much that the farmers in Philippines are having a hard time keeping up. Ube's social media virality brings us to an important question. Can you have it every day?
The answer is yes. Ube maybe new to the world but Filipinos have been thriving on it since generations. The tuber is enriched with a powerful antioxidant, the very same kind found in blueberries or blackberries. So, you could sip on it without a second since it's as healthy as it's pretty.
Antioxidants aside, ube can help you hit your daily fibre content. Remember fibre? The macro upstaged by protein. Ube is packed with fibre, making it a gut-essential ingredient.
In short, ube is a visually endearing beverage ideal for a cozy brunch or an anxiety-free coffee break. Don't knock it till you try it.
Social and lead images credits: Pexels