When Did Ube Become an International Dessert Sensation?

Thrillist

The New York City donut market is fairly crowded -- just about every shop that's opened in the last five to six years is doing inventive donuts that go well beyond your standard jelly-filled variety. But earlier this year, Brooklyn's Manila Social Club broke the mold of hibiscus-flavored donuts by making donuts out of ube, and now people wait all week long for a $40 box of them.

What's so special about them? Ube (pronounced oo-beh), is a Filipino yam known for its bright purple hue and subtle sweetness, and it's taken the dessert world by storm in the last year, getting incorporated into everything from donuts to bread pudding. Find out more in the video above to discover if you think it's worth $40 for a trendy vegetable treat.

Sign up here for our daily NYC email and be the first to get all the food/drink/fun New York has to offer.