‘Ube Fiesta’ to be held in Germany

MANILA, Philippines — The ube sensation is coming to Germany.

The Philippine consulate in Frankfurt will organize an “Ube Fiesta” at St. Augustin town near the city of Bonn on June 4 to showcase different food creations and other Filipino dishes and drinks using purple yam.

“The Ube Fiesta in Germany aims to promote and raise awareness of ube as a sustainable, healthy, organic, versatile and next-trend product from the Philippines,” the consulate said on the event website.

“The campaign/festival aims to highlight the characteristics of ube that coincide with German sustainability, culinary and social responsibility values through the showcase of special dishes and beverages which make use of ube as an ingredient,” it added.

Ube food vendors, bakers and enthusiasts from Germany are expected to attend the event.

The consulate said ube has become popular in the international culinary scene, citing the rise of sustainable and fair trade produce.

“For Filipinos, ube is not just a trend. Filipinos have particularly passed down sweet and savory recipes with ube for generations. Its many forms have been part of Filipinos’ fiesta banquets and special occasions,” it added, citing the annual Bohol Ube Festival as an example.

According to the consulate, ube is part of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s list of 39 high potential crops that can contribute in achieving the zero hunger goal.

Ube, it added, is considered as one of the Future Smart Foods (FSFs) that are nutrition-dense, climate-resilient, economically viable and locally available or adaptable.

“Rediscovering hidden treasures of neglected and under-utilized species such as ube and the creation of an enabling environment for the promotion, production, marketing and consumption of FSFs assures healthy diets for the future,” said the consulate.

The event, which will be held as part of Philippine Independence Day activities, will also feature cultural presentations and an art exhibition in partnership with the Filipino mission in the Archdiocese of Cologne.

Ube Fiesta will be held at the Steyler Missionare, St. Augustin, North Rhine Westphalia from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.