Hyderabad, June 24 -- For the past year, matcha has been the undisputed star of cafe culture. From lattes and cheesecakes to cookies and soft serves, the Japanese green tea trend was impossible to escape. But if 2025 belonged to matcha, 2026 is quickly becoming the year of 'ube'.

The vibrant purple ingredient from the Philippines is taking over cafe menus, social media feeds and food trends across the world. Now, Hyderabad's cafe scene is joining the purple revolution.

What Exactly Is Ube?

Ube (pronounced oo-beh) is a purple yam native to the Philippines. For generations, it has been used in traditional Filipino desserts such as ube halaya, cakes, ice creams and pastries. Thanks to its naturally striking purple colour and creamy flavou...