[Herald Economy=Reporter Jeong Dae-han] Ube—the vibrant purple yam that’s sparked a global craze—is now popping up as a fresh dessert trend in South Korea.According to industry sources on the 18th, Starbucks Korea rolled out an Ube Basque Cheesecake at select stores on the 14th. The limited-time item blends ube into a classic Basque cheesecake and has been available at roughly 100 locations. Earlier, Starbucks in the U.S. introduced ube beverages like the Iced Ube Coconut Latte and the Ube Coconut Macchiato.
A Starbucks Korea spokesperson said ube has drawn attention for its vivid purple hue without any artificial coloring and has emerged as a key trend in the global food-and-beverage scene, driven largely by social media. The company tested the Ube Basque Cheesecake at a handful of stores to offer a distinct food experience and will decide future rollout plans based on customer feedback.
Ube is a purple yam grown across Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. It resembles taro but has a deeper color and a stronger vanilla aroma and sweetness. It’s rich in dietary fiber and antioxidants like anthocyanins, which makes it fit well with the current “healthy pleasure” trend. Its bright, deep purple color has helped it become an eye-catching hit on social media.
Cafe chains have been quick to embrace the ube trend. Twosome Place was the first major domestic chain to introduce three ube drinks—Twosome Ube Latte, Ube Café Latte, and Ube Shake—along with one dessert, a spoonable Ube Abak, starting on the 6th.
Noted expanded its lineup on the 10th with six new ube items, and Dessert39 also joined the trend by launching six ube drinks.
