"Sold Out Everywhere" The Surprising Story of the 'Purple Gold' Philippine Yam That Has Captivated the World [Delicious Stories]

Purple Yam Grown in the Philippines: Ube
Its Unique Color Drives Dessert Craze
Ube Prices Skyrocket, but Supply Faces Crisis

Editor's NoteThe earliest confectionery is said to have been discovered in the ancient Mesopotamian civilization. Confections have accompanied every moment of human history. From biscuits and chocolate to ice cream—here are the delicious stories behind the treats we love.

Ube cake, ube ice cream, ube latte, and even ube bubble tea—ube is now gaining attention as a dessert ingredient following matcha. Ube is a type of yam grown in the Philippines. Originally, it was enjoyed only in the Philippines, but now it is beloved worldwide, causing its value to soar. It has even earned the nickname "purple gold."

Ube: Enjoyed by Indigenous Filipinos for Thousands of Years

Cheesecake with Ube. Starbucks

The most distinctive feature of ube is its vibrant purple flesh. In addition, it boasts a rich, nutty flavor that pairs well with any dessert. This sets it apart from matcha, which is known for its unique bitterness and astringency. For this reason, desserts made with ground ube powder are gaining popularity, as the powder serves as a natural coloring agent.

Ube originates from the Philippines. According to Filutcrops, a crop research institute under Visayas State University in the Philippines, the indigenous peoples of the Philippine archipelago have consumed ube for thousands of years. In Filipino households, on days of major events each year, families would buy ube from the market and make jam from it. With the development of processed foods, ube powder has also been added to ice cream, cookies, and cakes.

Thrives Without Water... Once a Staple Crop

Ube is a crop similar to sweet potato. 'Ube powder' made from ground ube is used in desserts. Screenshot from the Organic Ube website

However, ube was not always considered a dessert ingredient from the beginning. In fact, ube was once a staple crop. As a plant, its main characteristic is that it grows well even without water. In the past, when certain regions of the Philippines suffered from severe drought, people harvested ube to endure the poor harvests. Especially in Bohol, near Cebu, which is famous as the "ube belt" where ube grows well, locals even mention ube in the lyrics of hymns.

Today, with surging domestic and international demand, ube is no longer a crop for the poor but is now treated as "purple gold." According to data from the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Philippines exported 1.7 million kilograms of ube last year, an increase of 20.4% compared to the previous year, reaching a value of 3 million dollars (approximately 4.4 billion won).

Soaring Popularity, but Supply Concerns Remain

Ube powder produced in the Philippines. Filutcrops homepage

Nowadays, ube is sought after worldwide, but paradoxically, there are growing concerns about ube supply within the Philippines itself. While ube is highly drought-resistant, it is also considered a difficult crop to cultivate. It takes about nine months for ube to fully mature, and even within the Philippine islands, it only grows in certain regions due to its sensitivity to environmental conditions.

Filutcrops explained, "Ube is a crop specialized to certain regions, requiring specific soil and environmental conditions to achieve optimal yields. It is also susceptible to pests and diseases, which disrupt production. According to national data, ube production in the Philippines dropped significantly from 30,000 tons in 2006 to about 14,000 tons in 2020."

Due to climate change, the ube belt is battered by more than 20 strong winds and storms on average every year, sometimes devastating ube farms. Filutcrops emphasized, "Even in the ube capital of the Philippines, it is becoming increasingly difficult to cultivate ube," urging, "The Philippine government needs to focus on adopting advanced technology and mechanization to stabilize production."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.