It is called the most trending root crop of 2020. After all, ube or purple yam makes great Instagram food. And all thanks to its bright purple color.
Food experts believe that a real world invasion of purple donuts, cheesecakes and yam waffles is about to begin. But besides its visual appeal, it is also a useful product. Ube has long been known as a powerful anti-aging agent, high in vitamin C and B6, fiber, potassium and manganese
Violet yam (Dioscorea alata, ube, purple sweet potato) is a plant that resembles potatoes and has a bright purple color, and the flesh is purple. Yams grow in warm latitudes. Of all the yams, this one is the sweetest, so purple tubers are often used to make desserts, including ice cream. This is the first time a purple yam-flavored ice cream has been made for a Hawaiian brand. And in the Philippines, purple yam ice cream is generally something like a signature dessert. For this country, ube is generally a popular product.
One root vegetable can be up to 2,5 m long and weigh 70 kg. It can be boiled, baked, steamed, dried, used in baked goods, ice cream and cocktails.
“You often see that ube turns into jams and pastes called halaya. They are used in rolls, scones and ice cream, ”said Nicole Ponseca, owner and CEO of New York-based Philippine gastropub Jeepney and restaurant Maharlika. “Ube looks a bit like a mixture of vanilla and pistachio. It’s sweet and earthy, ”he explained the taste of this root vegetable.
Recall that earlier we talked about which purple foods are incredibly beneficial to health, as well as about the trendiest tea of 2020.