What does ube taste like?
Ube tastes like a sweeter, nuttier sweet potato with a hint of vanilla and something close to pistachio, mellow rather than loud, and famously bright purple.
Ube
sweet, nutty purple yam
Ube is a purple yam from the Philippines, where it's a dessert staple. On its own it's mild and earthy, like a sweet potato with the volume turned down. Cooked with coconut milk, butter and sugar into ube halaya (a thick, sweet jam), it tastes of vanilla, toasted nuts and a little coconut. People often expect it to taste like the color, something wild and fruity. It doesn't: it's gentle and cozy. A lot of the purple you see in bakeries also comes from ube extract, which leans more vanilla.
Where you’ll see it
In Filipino desserts like halo-halo and ube halaya, and now everywhere else: ube ice cream, cheesecake, donuts, lattes, crinkle cookies and soft rolls (pandesal) with ube filling.
Order it if you like vanilla, sweet potato pie and pistachio, and want a dessert that's cozy rather than sharp.
Quick questions
- Is ube the same as taro?
- No. Ube is a purple yam, sweet and vanilla-ish. Taro is a starchy root, usually pale with purple flecks, nuttier and more savory. Taro boba is often dyed purple, which adds to the confusion.
- Is ube the same as purple sweet potato?
- No, though they look alike. Purple sweet potato is a different plant and tastes more like an ordinary sweet potato. Ube is moister and more vanilla-like.