What Is Ube?

Ube is a purple yam, botanically Dioscorea alata, that is naturally violet inside. It is a staple of Filipino cuisine and is used in cakes, ice cream, jam, pastries and lattes. Dried and milled, it becomes the ube powder used in drinks and baking.

Ube tastes mildly sweet and nutty, often described as close to vanilla with a hint of sweet potato. The flavour is soft rather than sharp and it is not bitter, which is why it works in both drinks and desserts.

Yes. In pure ube powder the colour comes from the root itself. The shade varies naturally between batches and looks lighter once milk is added. Wild Yam adds no dyes or colouring.

No. Ube is naturally caffeine-free. It is a root vegetable rather than a tea or coffee plant, so an ube latte has no caffeine unless you add a caffeinated ingredient yourself.

No. Ube and taro are different plants. Ube is a yam with naturally purple flesh, while taro is usually white or pale with flecks, so purple taro drinks are generally coloured.

Check the ingredient list: pure ube powder has one ingredient, ube. Prepared latte mixes typically list sugar, milk powder, flavouring or colouring alongside it. See our single-ingredient pouch.