What Is Ube? How to Cook With the Sweet Purple Yam and What It Tastes Like

If you’ve spent any time in Trader Joe’s or bubble tea shops in the past few years, you’ve probably come across products advertising something flavored with ube. The vibrant purple color is enticing, sure, but those who haven’t seen it before might wonder, ‘What is ube?’ Growing up in a Filipino family, it was common practice to finish off a meal (especially in the summer months) with a tall glass of halo-halo. It’s a shaved ice dessert that translates to “mix-mix” in Tagalog, the native language of the Philippines. If you didn’t grow up enjoying ube, there are many new ways of introducing the bright purple yam into your home via ice cream, cookies, and more.

Pronounced ooh-bay, ube is a starchy purple tuber (formally known as Dioscorea alata). Ube is native to the Philippines, which is known for cooking and baking with it. Nutrition-wise, ube is similar to a plain sweet potato, logging in at 120 calories, 27 g carbs, 4 g fiber, and 1 g protein. 

What Does Ube Taste Like? 

If you were to blind taste-test a regular sweet potato or yam with ube, it might be hard to determine which you’re eating. The flavors are very similar, but upon closer examination, there is a small difference in the texture of ube compared to an orange sweet potato. Ube is a bit creamier when boiled, which makes it a perfect candidate to use in baked goods.

Ube vs. Taro vs. Purple Sweet Potatoes

Taro is often confused with ube. It’s a starchy tuber, but rather than being entirely purple, taro is white with specks of purple and a brown, scaly exterior. You’ll find taro in sweet dishes (or on a bubble tea menu), but several Asian countries use taro in savory dishes as well. Flavor-wise, ube has a natural sweetness while taro has a more earthy and nutty yet slightly sweet taste.

While botanically different, purple sweet potatoes are also commonly used in place of ube, as they're easier to grow in the United States.

Where to Buy Ube

Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to find fresh ube in the United States. Your best bet to find it fresh is at your local Asian grocery store. Since the tough bark-like exterior can be a difficult to get through, try looking for it already cooked and pureed in the freezer section.

Ube Extract and Ube Powder

If you can’t find fresh ube at the store or you do use purple sweet potatoes instead, opt for adding a little ube extract. Ube is also sold dried in powder form, which can be rehydrated and used the same as the puree.

How to Use Ube

In the Philippines, ube is usually boiled, mashed, and used to make desserts. Some of the most popular ube desserts are ube halaya, ice cream, pastillas (candies), and cakes. Here in the United States, you’ll likely find ube in the form of a delicious product for purchase or on a menu. Thanks to its brilliant purple color, ube is a trendy choice for cocktails, lattes, and other treats on social media. For an authentic taste of the prepared tuber without having to cook ube, try picking up a jar of ube halaya (in Asian grocery stores or online) to spread on toast, top ice cream, halo-halo, or eat on its own.