Forget matcha, this bright purple drink is the new thing
On every street corner in Amsterdam, someone is walking around with a matcha latte in hand. Sometimes bright green, sometimes with a layer of mango or strawberry puree at the bottom à la Veggilaine. Understandable, as the ground tea leaves are an acquired taste. Either you love it, or you despise every sip. And precisely to solve that problem, a new favorite is now emerging. Bright purple, sweeter, and according to many simply tastier.
The basics: what is ube?
Ube (pronounced as “oo-bee”) is a bright purple yam from the Philippines. It gets its color from anthocyanins, antioxidants that you also find in blueberries it. The tuber is full of vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. Perfect, because fiber is also very trendy and these substances give you a small energy boost, but without the coffee crash. Unlike matcha, which contains caffeine, ube is naturally caffeine-free. An ube latte is therefore automatically decaf, without sacrificing flavor.
Not just for lattes
The purple tuber is naturally slightly sweet, with hints of vanilla, coconut, and a nutty undertone, making it perfect in powdered form for lattes. In the Philippines, it is a classic in desserts (especially around holidays), but it can do much more than that: ice cream, cookies, smoothies, and pancakes with ube in them are delicious. But it can also be savory: curry, mashed potatoes, or soup get an instant twist from it. Even simply roasted or baked, it is tasty, although it is mainly the color that does the trick.
Soon you will see not green, but purple lattes moving through the city. And then you immediately know what time it is: Amsterdam has a new favorite. Fortunately, this time you don't have to convince yourself that it is the flavor that draws you to the drink.
SOURCE: AD
