Your UAE guide to ube — the Filipino purple yam taking the world by storm. Recipes, tips, and everything purple.
Ube (pronounced oo-beh) is a purple yam native to the Philippines. It has a unique flavour — mildly sweet, nutty, and creamy with hints of vanilla and coconut. Unlike taro or purple sweet potato, ube is the authentic ingredient behind all those gorgeous purple desserts and lattes you see online.
Its vibrant violet hue comes from anthocyanins — powerful natural antioxidants. No food dye needed.
Sweet, nutty, and creamy with hints of vanilla. Subtle enough to pair beautifully with almost anything.
Ube menu items grew 230% globally in four years. It is the new matcha — and it is just getting started.
Tap any recipe to see the full ingredients and steps.
Ube powder whisked into steamed oat or coconut milk.
View Recipe →The classic Filipino purple yam jam made with condensed milk.
View Recipe →No-churn, no machine needed. Just three ingredients and a freezer.
View Recipe →The beloved Filipino soft bread roll reimagined in purple.
View Recipe →From global chains to local Filipino gems, here are the places serving ube drinks and desserts across the UAE right now.
📍 Multiple locations across UAE
Starbucks launched its ube range across EMEA in spring 2026, bringing the purple yam to its UAE coffeehouses for the first time.
📍 Dubai
Filipino-owned bakehouse founded by Chin and Cha, serving ube-infused bakes and drinks since 2023. One of the first dedicated ube spots in Dubai.
📍 Dubai
A beloved Filipino home-kitchen brand in Dubai known for using real ube yam rather than artificial flavouring. Popular with Filipinos and locals alike.
📍 Abu Dhabi
Named by Time Out Abu Dhabi as the only café in the capital offering ube drinks alongside blue spirulina matcha. Known for visually striking, colourful all-day dining.
📍 Multiple locations across UAE
Costa joined the ube trend in 2026, adding ube-based beverages to its menu across the UK and internationally, including its UAE branches.
📍 Multiple locations across UAE
Pret added ube drinks to its menu in 2026 as part of the global wave of major café chains embracing the purple yam trend. Available at UAE locations.