Ube Gains Traction as a Key Beverage Trend in 2026

The ingredient is expanding beyond coffee shops, appearing across cocktails, hot chocolate, baked goods, and other categories.

Pronounced ‘oo-bay’, ube is a purple yam that resembles a purple sweet potato. It is indigenous to the Philippines, where it has historically served as a fundamental component in foods such as halaya (a dense jam) and pandesal (a soft bread roll), in addition to desserts like ice cream and cake. Recently, beverages using the violet element have gained popularity in the US, and this trend is now emerging in this region. Prominent establishments such as Starbucks, Blank Street, Pret and Costa now offer ube-based beverages in the UK, while ube cocktails are available at venues like Bar Lotus in Dalston.

In the Philippines, ube is not merely a trend; it is an integral component of the nation's culinary tradition. In London, Filipino cafes have been serving ube long before it gained widespread popularity, such as the dessert destination Mamasons. “When we launched ube at Mamasons nearly ten years ago, we were among the few establishments in the UK presenting it in both ice cream and beverages, including traditional halo halo, scoops, bilogs, and ube lattes,” states co-founder and Filipino restaurateur Omar Shah. I recall the expressions individuals exhibited upon encountering the purple ice cream. I would clarify that it was a purple yam from the Philippines, and some individuals would enter and immediately exit upon seeing that we were not offering vanilla or strawberry. It required genuine education at that time. Currently, there exists somewhat greater familiarity and considerably diminished persuasion. The majority of our clientele specifically seeks us out for our ube offerings.

UBE LATTE - Cafe Joanna

The vibrant green colour of matcha has established its prominence, while the striking purple hue of ube has propelled the vegetable to fame, evidenced by 118,000 posts on TikTok under the hashtag #ube. Liam Maddin, barista lead at Rude Health, states, "We have observed an increasing interest in unconventional coffee flavours, and ube aligns seamlessly with this trend." It addresses current consumer desires for visually beautiful, somewhat indulgent products that have a foundation of quality ingredients.

Shah concurs that the appeal extends beyond aesthetics; ube's flavour complements a diverse range of beverages and culinary dishes. The inherent nuttiness enables it to complement beverages, pastries, and sweets without appearing contrived, which is why we expanded its use beyond ice cream early on,” he states. “It also adapts exceptionally well to various European formats.” At Café Mamasons, for example, it is included into laminated pastries such as ube pain au chocolat, while the ube tiramisu at Shah’s restaurant Belly has garnered significant popularity since the establishment's inception in 2025.

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Health Benefits

A significant aspect of matcha's allure lies in its nutritional advantages: the green tea has been demonstrated to promote cardiovascular health, reduce blood pressure, and enhance concentration without excessive caffeine intake. Does ube correspond effectively?

As a vegetable, ube has numerous health benefits. Ube is notably abundant in anthocyanins, the antioxidants present in blueberries and other berries that aid in diminishing inflammation and promoting cardiovascular health, states Lily Keeling, a trained nutritionist at Green Chef UK. It has a substantial concentration of Vitamin C, potassium, and complex carbs, rendering it exceptional for sustained energy release. The ingredient promotes gut health owing to its high fibre content and is abundant in potassium, which benefits cardiovascular health.

As a root vegetable, ube is inherently caffeine-free, allowing it to be used in its raw form (powder combined with water or milk) at any time of day without affecting sleep. Nonetheless, the ingredient is frequently used into caffeinated beverages, hence an ube latte will still provide a caffeine boost.

Certainly, the health benefits ultimately hinge on the manner in which the ube is utilised. Keeling indicates that chain cafés frequently depend on extensively processed syrups or powders that are laden with elevated amounts of added sugars and synthetic colouring. For a nutritious alternative that can be prepared at home, she suggests incorporating a teaspoon of 100 percent pure ube powder into unsweetened coconut or oat milk, sweetened with a hint of honey or stevia. Alternatively, it can be prepared similarly to a sweet potato: roasted, mashed, or utilised as a natural sweetener in morning smoothies.