The purple yam has been cultivated in Austronesian cultures for thousands of years. They were easily suited for long sea transport and quickly spread throughout the region. Archeological evidence suggests that ube was first cultivated in the Philippines and New Guinea. Today, ube is used in the Melanesia region for ceremonial events. It has a spotlight in the Philippines for traditional and modern dessert dishes. In addition to milkshakes, ube can take the form of delicious ice cream treats surrounded by sweet rice dough.