In a café world filled with beige coffees and green matcha lattes, few ingredients manage to stand out quite like Ube (pronounced oo-beh). A vivid purple yam native to the Philippines, Ube is quietly but unmistakably edging its way into café cultures worldwide and in India.
As matcha fatigue begins to set in among the chronically caffeinated and aesthetically driven alike, a new contender has emerged in its place—earning itself the label of the “new matcha”. With its arresting violet hue, adaptable flavour profile, and social media-ready appeal, ube is the café culture’s next photogenic obsession.
The Arresting Violet Hue Of Ube
Ube’s rise as the internet’s favourite
matcha alternative begins with its look. In a café world filled with beige coffees and green matcha lattes, its deep violet hue stands out instantly—built for Instagram and TikTok, where visual appeal often drives trends.
Unlike matcha, which can be bitter and earthy, ube is naturally sweet, creamy and nutty, with hints of vanilla and
coconut. This makes it easy to use across lattes, milkshakes and desserts, helping it move quickly from novelty to menu regular.
As matcha fatigue grows, ube arrives as a more playful, indulgent alternative, while still carrying a health-friendly image thanks to antioxidants like anthocyanins, plus vitamins A and C. Several
cafés in Delhi are now adding it to menus, positioning ube as the next big café trend—where flavour, colour and social media appeal meet.
A Filipino Staple
Native to the Philippines and other parts of Southeast Asia, ube has been cultivated for centuries, with its name rooted in the Tagalog language (an Austronesia language, largely spoken in Philippines). Long a staple in Filipino kitchens, it is best known in its traditional form as ube halaya—a rich, sweet purple yam preserve. Today, its reach has gone far beyond its origins, appearing in cafés and
dessert menus worldwide, from pastries and ice creams to increasingly popular lattes.
Where to Find Ube In India?
Still new to India’s café landscape, ube is beginning to appear on menus in a handful of chains and independent cafés that are quick to pick up on global, social media-led
food trends. Most often seen as part of limited editions or experimental specials, these pastel-purple drinks and desserts are slowly making their way into major cities.
Delhi
Coffee Island
Coffee Island is of the first nationwide chains to introduce a dedicated ube range in India. The menu includes the Iced Ube Latte, Iced Ube Matcha Blend, Ube Smoothie and Bobastic Coconut Ube. Available across outlets in cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Gurugram and Pune.
Mumbai
Tokyo Matcha Bar (Bandra West)
This Japanese-inspired café known for aesthetic, Asian-style beverages resembles a serene Japanese-inspired hideaway. Soft decor with sakura motifs, wish notes and limited seating create a calm retreat. The menu features strawberry matcha, ube lattes, dan dan noodles and matcha soft serve, offering a quiet escape from Mumbai’s bustle.
Address: Silvilla House, Chapel Rd, next to Lovely Stores, St Sebastian Colony, Ranwar, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050
Bombay Boba (Kandivali West)
Bombay Boba is a laid-back bubble tea café in Kandivali West, known for its relaxed hangout vibe and aesthetic drinks. Head here for signature purple milk tea blends with ube variations from the premium menu. Colourful, creamy, and designed for the camera, alongside burnt Oreo, Berry Bae fruit tea, and Hong Kong boba.
Address: Shop No 2, Swami Vivekanand Rd, near Jari Mari Temple, Kandivali, Poisar, Kandivali West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400067
Bengaluru
DayMonthYear
DayMonthYear is an aesthetic café and workspace in
Bengaluru with an industrial-minimalist interior and a “coffee by day, wine by bar” concept. It is known for one of the city’s earliest dedicated ube menus, featuring Ube Matcha, Creamy Ube Latte, Ube Einspanner and Ube Cloud drinks. The menu leans into Italian and Korean café culture with Burnt Caramel Candy Latte, Orange Fizz Americano and a 17-Grain Matcha Latte.
Address: Ground Floor, 755, 19th Main, 22nd Cross Rd, Parangi Palaya, Sector 2, HSR Layout, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560102
