If one were to dissect the anatomy of Pinoy culture, they would find that through its veins flow steadfast national pride and traces of ube. While adobo is widely known as the signature dish of Filipinos in the diaspora, ube holds the title as its sweet counterpart.
The traditional process of creating the flavor is simple; purple yam is grated before being boiled with a base of coconut and sweetened condensed milk, resulting in a sticky glutinous mixture called ube halaya. This concoction can be eaten on its own, as a spread, or used as the key ingredient in several dessert recipes.
Its vibrant purple hue is hard to miss, while its earthy sweetness makes it hard to forget — and non-FIlipinos are taking notice.
In a recent article by The New York Times, four-time James Beard Award winner and writer Kim Severson, states, ”Ube, a slightly nutty-tasting, vanilla-scented purple yam from the Philippines, is showing up on lots of trend lists and in all kinds of foods and drinks, from pies and waffles to lattes and ube coladas.”
With a central role in Philippine dining for the past four centuries and a growing fanbase in cities worldwide, one thing is certain: ube will be ubiquitous in 2023.
Read on to find out where you can jump on board with this super tuber trend in Tucson.
Ube Bae
Online Ordering
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FIlipino-American veteran and home-based baker, Brittany Gudino, combines her cultural background with ube-flavored cookies. See where you can purchase her treats by giving Ube Bae a follow on social media.
For more information, follow Ube Bae on Instagram.
Fiesta Filipina Asian Express
5870 E. Broadway Blvd.
This isn’t your typical mall food! Thelma Ward of Fiesta Filipina has delighted the residents of Tucson with traditional Filipino dishes in her food truck for years before setting up shop in the Park Place Mall.
If her golden, crisp whole pork lechon isn’t enough to take a trip to the east side, then make the stop for her ube biko (sweet sticky rice) and ube halo-halo (crushed ice dessert).
Read our November 2021 article, “Thelma Ward’s Fiesta Filipina at Park Place Mall is a celebration of Filipino culture.” For more information, visit fiestafilipinaconcessions.com.
UniTea
6242 E. Speedway Blvd.
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The creators of UniTea made it their mission to combine internationally-inspired treats under one kawaii-decorated roof. You can see it now at their newly opened Speedway location and give their Ube Swirl Cup a swirl!
For more information, follow UniTea on Instagram.
Fili Bakery
Online Ordering
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After an end-of-the-year hiatus, Fili Bakery is back and partnering with the Si Charro! group to bring Tucson more Ube white chocolate chip cookies and other Filipino-inspired sweets. Now that’s what we call a batch made in Heaven.
Be on the lookout for more updates on their social media platforms.
For more information, follow Fili Bakery on Instagram and Facebook.
Nick’s Sari-Sari Store
2001 S. Craycroft Rd.
It would be a miss not to include Nick’s Sari-Sari Store in Tucson’s ube line-up.
Sari-Sari store, which literally translates to “variety store,” is a term coined for the makeshift stands owned and operated by Filipino families at the bottom story of their households. Here, they sell a wide array of items, from bags of chips to flip-flops to passersby.
Patrons of the eastside shop can find every ingredient necessary to make their favorite ube desserts at home or to enjoy a cup of halo-halo topped with ube ice cream at their in-store restaurant.
For more information, visit nickssari-saristoreandrestaurant.com.
Tucson Coffee Cricket
Multiple Locations (food truck)
Whether it’s 50 degrees out or a blazing 100, you can still get your early morning ube fix at Tucson Coffee Cricket. Their iced and hot ube latte options can be purchased throughout the morning and early afternoon, and make any time the perfect time for sitting back and enjoying this yamm-y treat.
Read our November 2022 article, “Inventive drinks & interesting For more information, follow Tucson Coffee Cricket on Instagram.
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