From Bratislava to Tvrdošín, the vibrant purple yam drink is gaining fans.
In recent months, a new drink called ube (pronounced oo-beh) has been appearing on café menus throughout Slovakia. Made from purple yam, it is typically served with milk, coffee, matcha, or various sweet syrups, creating the striking violet drinks that have become increasingly popular on social media.
As is often the case with food and beverage trends, ube-based drinks tend to be among the more expensive items on café menus. Ube powder or paste can also be purchased from various online retailers, although neither is nearly as widely available as matcha. Prices vary depending on the product and package size, but generally start at around €10.
Ube has also been gaining traction on Instagram and TikTok, where many users praise it as being just as photogenic as matcha.
Made from a purple yam native to the Philippines, ube has a subtle flavour often described as nutty and vanilla-like. Unlike coffee or matcha, it contains no caffeine, meaning it is unlikely to replace either as an energy-boosting drink. However, it does contain carbohydrates, potassium and antioxidants.
