Filipinos have been in on the ube secret for ages, but this delightfully purple ingredient is making its way into the mainstream as of late. It's a root vegetable, likened to a yam, that is used in many dishes, but what I was really interested in is this ube ice cream that keeps popping up on Instagram. I went to Soft Swerve in Lower Manhattan to see for myself. As a fan of yams and a fan of ice cream, I felt like I couldn't possibly go wrong with this vibrantly colored dessert. Good news, y'all: it was pretty awesome.
While you can expect to wait in line for a bit and pay a bit of a steep price (my cone was nearly $8), the ice cream is actually delicious. It's really creamy and not too sweet, so after inhaling it to keep it from melting in the ridiculous February heat wave, I didn't feel my normal ice cream hangover. (You know that feeling after eating too much sweet creaminess? Ice cream hangover.) The ice cream didn't at all taste like a sweet potato, though. It had a subtle earthy, nutty flavor. It also didn't have any of the crystallization in its texture like a lot of soft serve does. Overall, this trendy new treat is a total win in my book. I topped mine with mochi and toasted coconut, and the coconut provided most of the flavor, as did the chocolate cone the dessert was served in. Overall, if you're in New York, definitely check out Soft Swerve.
FAQs
While ube is sweet, it also has an earthy taste, which isn't very pronounced in the ice cream. It's somewhere between milky and malty, kind of like green tea ice cream, minus the bitterness.
What does purple ube taste like? ›
The distinct ube flavor is slightly nutty with a hint of vanilla. It has a coconut-like aroma that lends itself well to dessert items. Ube is most often boiled, mashed, and mixed with condensed milk to bring out its sweetness.
What is the flavor of ube ice cream? ›
Ube (pronounced ooh-beh) is a purple yam from the Philippines with a mild, sweet flavor. The taste has been described as slightly nutty, or as a cross between vanilla and pistachio. It is frequently incorporated into desserts in Filipino cuisine with ube ice cream being one of the most popular preparations.
What does ube taste similar to? ›
Both ube and Okinawan sweet potato have a similar sweet, earthy flavor, with ube carrying hints of pistachio and vanilla.
What is the flavor of purple ice cream? ›
However, grape and ube are the most commonly associated flavors with the purple color in ice cream.
Is ube ice cream healthy? ›
It's a purple yam, in the same family as sweet potatoes, that's mashed and blended into your favorite desserts, like ice cream, frosting, and pies, reports TIME. Like your typical orange yams, ube—a staple in the Philippines—is a great source of healthy carbs, fiber, vitamins, and potassium.
Why is ube expensive? ›
Due to dwindling local production and the need to meet export demands, ube flavoring and color has become common in the Asian country. Scarcity in supply of the crop has also resulted in high prices.
How do you pronounce ube ice cream? ›
Ube is an ingredient that definitely makes some beautiful food, and you can't argue with that. If you're having debates on how to pronounce ube, you're probably safe with "oo-bae" or "ooh-beh." Just maybe don't say "ew-b."
What is ube called in English? ›
Dioscorea alata is a species of yam commonly referred to as purple yam, ube, violet yam, or water yam. This tuberous root vegetable originates from Southeast Asia and is often confused with taro root.
Why is ube so popular? ›
Much of the hype surrounding ube solely fixates on its aesthetics. Ube has a distinctive nutty, vanilla-like flavor profile, but praise is mainly awarded to its bright violet hue, which provides a pop of color in savory dishes, desserts and baked goods.
Ube are purple yams. Not to be mistaken for the famous Okinawan sweet potato or the Japanese taro, the ube yam is a root from the Philippines and is most commonly used in Filipino desserts.
What is McDonald's purple ice cream? ›
The sweet potato soft serve was first introduced in 2019 and served in a dark-coloured waffle cone unlike the regular McDonald's ice cream cone. In 2020, it made a brief comeback before it was removed from the menu again. This will be the first time in four years that McDonald's is bringing back the popular soft serve.
Is purple yam slimy? ›
The flesh is bright lavender and has a slimy texture like taro and is very starchy. Ratalu Purple yam has a slightly sweet, nutty flavor.
Is purple taro the same as ube? ›
The main differences between taro and ube are their origin, the shape and color of their roots, and their flavor and traditional uses. Taro is native to Southeast Asia and has white or light purple roots, while ube (also known as purple yam) is native to the Philippines and has purple roots.
Do purple sweet potatoes taste different? ›
What Do They Taste Like? It depends on the variety, but in general, purple sweet potatoes are mildly sweet and almost wine-like in taste. They tend to be much drier and starchier than traditional sweet potatoes. For this reason, purple sweet potatoes are often cooked for longer than traditional sweet potatoes.
Does ube stain teeth? ›
Ok fair warning, ube will stain your whole mouth.
