Root crops are a huge part of Filipino food and culture. And one that has been cooking up a storm with food enthusiasts is ube. Known for its vibrant purple color, ube is often served on Filipino tables as dessert. It was, however, never given much attention until a restaurant posted a gold-coated donut filled with ube mousse, possibly jumpstarting the craze for this tasty root crop. Here’s what you need to know about it.   

What Is Ube?

Pronounced as “oo-beh” in Filipino, the purple yam has the scientific name Dioscorea alata. Although ube is a tuber, its nutrients are mostly found in the enlarged stems of the plant and not in the roots. There are several varieties of ube grown and harvested all over the world, but it is native to Southeast Asia. The plant is often mistaken for taro or Okinawan sweet potato, but while taro is commonly used as an ingredient for Filipino dishes, ube is typically turned into sweet treats.  

How Does It Taste?

When mixed with milk and margarine or butter, peeled boiled ube turns into a creamy consistency of halaya or jam after prolonged stirring. It is eaten as a gooey dessert, added as topping to the halo-halo, or used as filling in pastries like hopia, ensaymada, or cinnamon rolls. Sans the milk, ube tastes nutty and has a subtle vanilla aroma, making it ideal for sweets and snacks.

Why Has It Suddenly Became Famous?

Ube has long been a staple in Filipino cuisine, as most family dinners and gatherings are incomplete without its thick, sweet creaminess. Although its flavor is used in ice creams, cheesecakes, and cinnamon rolls, the hype for ube began when a Filipino restaurant sold donuts dipped in 24-karat gold and priced it at a whopping $100 apiece. Even without the glitter, however, ube is making its way to the forefront of must-try, delectable Filipino food as eager foodies love it for being a feast to the eyes and taste buds.

Ube tastes best after a hearty meal of Filipino food. For a delicious sampling of Filipino cuisine on Maui, look no further than Plantation Grindz in Kahului, HI. This restaurant is known for its weekly food specials, switching it up between Filipino, Portuguese, and Hawaiian. To learn more about what they serve, call (808) 873-3663 or visit them online. You can also find them on Google+ and Twitter, and leave a review on their Yelp page if you’ve enjoyed Filipino food in their establishment.