On the back of the bright green matcha, a new foodstuff has become an internet sensation: the vibrant purple ube. Though it has only become popular internationally recently, ube has been popular in its native country of the Philippines for a long time.
To find out more, watch the video below:
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “big spike” mean? “The first time that I really noticed a big spike in demand was sometime around 2025.” Use this phrase in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
- What does “super commonplace” mean? “So, like you said, it’s been around for thousand of years and it’s super commonplace in Filipino kitchens.” Use this expression in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
- What does “slow burn” mean? “So it’s sort of sort of slow burn trend that really took off at the end of 2025 and into this year.” Use this term in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
Discussion Questions:
- Have you heard or seen anything about this purple food known as “ube”? Tell us about your experience.
- Why do you think it’s becoming a trend nowadays?
- Do you have a local food that gained global recognition?
- How does it help the country of origin to create sustainability as the demand grows?
- Who benefits from the trend that gained global attention?