5 ube matcha drinks & desserts to try in Dubai this summer

Is ube matcha Dubai’s new sweet obsession? From ice-cold drinks to creamy desserts, the purple-hued pairing is being spotted on menus across the city, bringing together ube’s natural sweetness with matcha’s earthy kick. Here are five to try this summer. ube: A naturally purple yam from the Philippines, known for its mild, nutty sweetness. Matcha: Finely ground Japanese green tea with an earthy, slightly bitter flavour and natural caffeine. Together: Ube adds sweetness and creaminess, while matcha brings an earthy kick – a popular pairing for drinks and desserts. Any benefits? Ube contains fibre, potassium and antioxidants, while matcha contains antioxidants and naturally occurring caffeine. The colour: That signature purple comes naturally from ube, making it as photogenic as it is tasty. If you’re looking for ube matcha in Dubai, NETTE Al Barari is one to know. Its limited-edition summer menu puts ube front and centre across a few playful drinks and desserts, available daily throughout the season. The menu includes a Burnt Basque ube Cheesecake with coconut vanilla Chantilly, miso butterscotch and toasted coconut, plus Ube Crinkle Cookies filled with coconut cream cheese. For drinks, there’s The ube Cloud, a creamy mix of ube, oat milk, cream and coconut water, and the ube Matcha, combining matcha, ube and coconut water in a layered, refreshing sip. Where: Office Restaurants & Retail 3 Lower Ground (LG) Level, Seventh Heaven, Al Barari, Dubai A post shared by Brunch & Cake UAE (@brunchandcake) ube has found a home at one of Dubai’s go-to all-day brunch spots. Born in Barcelona, Brunch & Cake is known for its generous breakfasts, colourful plates, house-made bakery treats and photogenic presentation. For the ube fans, there’s plenty to choose from. The menu includes an ube Iced Matcha, layered with matcha, coconut and vanilla, topped with ube cream, as well as an ube Latte made with ube and creamy coconut. There’s also an ube Iced Latte, finished with ube cream and toasted coconut. Where: Brunch & Cake, multiple Dubai locations: Jumeirah Islands; Palm Jumeirah; Address Montgomerie; Wasl 51; City Centre Mirdif 6 things to do in Dubai this week: August 17 to 20