One of the newest trends in coffee shops across Gwinnett County this spring is ube-flavored lattes! Ube is a purple yam that can be found in the Philippines with a distinctly bright purple hue and vanilla flavor profile. As of late, this tasty root vegetable has become a popular menu item, taking on the form of homemade syrups and cold foams in both espresso-based drinks and matcha lattes. It’s a truly delicious combination that can be found at spots like Matcha Cafe Maiko in Duluth year-round.

Matcha Cafe Maiko is a Japanese cafe that offers a wide selection of authentic drinks and desserts. They source Organic Ceremonial Grade Matcha from Kyoto, Japan and you can truly taste the difference! High-quality matcha has a vibrant green hue and is often sweeter than its lower-quality varieties. Inside, the cafe has a calming ambiance with natural wooden tones and plenty of seating, the perfect place to grab a drink or soft serve and relax!

For this week’s Thirsty Thursday spotlight, we’re featuring the iced ube matcha latte from this cafe. They offer customizations for milk choice, so we went with almond milk, which gave the perfect addition of slightly nutty flavor to the drink. The ratio of matcha to milk in the latte was just right and is balanced well with the ube syrup that gives a rich vanilla flavor to the drink. It also has a cute aesthetic layered look, which makes for a great Instagram pic!

Whether you’re already an ube lover or new to this starchy veggie, now’s the time to visit Matcha Cafe Maiko to give their ube matcha latte a try. It’s the perfect beverage to get into the springtime spirit in Gwinnett!