is a species of yam, a tuberous root vegetable (though, with some varieties, ubi or ube are also produced above ground at leaf nodes along the vine.) The interior of ube can be lavender to deep violet-purple in color with an outer skin that can be tan to dull brown and smooth to fibrous. Some varieties produce round tubers, others, oblong, and some produce large irregular bulbous and craggy tubers. It is sometimes confused with taro and the Okinawa sweet potato. The "queen of ube" is the fragrant and very sweet, Kinampay ube. In general, the flavor is delicate and softly sweet. Purple yam is used in many desserts, as well as in pastries. In the Philippines, it is eaten as a sweetened dessert or jam called ube halaya/ubi helaya and added as an ingredient in the ice dessert called halo-halo. The ube is often stored and prepared mashed, chipped, and powdered.
