MANILA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Rising international demand for authentic Asian flavors, natural food colorants and versatile food ingredients enabled the Philippines to generate 3.06 million U.S. dollars in exports of ube and ube-based products in 2025, the country's Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Friday.
According to the DTI, the export growth reflects ube's transformation from a traditional local staple into a premium ingredient sought in international markets.
Preliminary data showed continued expansion in processed ube products, including powder, puree, flavor extracts, and halaya -- a popular Filipino dessert made from boiled and mashed ube.
Ube is prized for its sweet, earthy flavor with nutty vanilla notes. A staple in Filipino cuisine, it is commonly used in desserts such as ube halaya, ice cream and cakes. ■