Ube lattes went from niche to everywhere, and it is easy to see why. A milky purple drink that tastes faintly of vanilla and sweet yam photographs beautifully and drinks even better. Here is what ube actually is, plus an easy way to make one at home in the UAE, hot or iced.
What is ube?
Ube (say OO-beh) is a purple yam from the Philippines. It is not taro, and the colour is not artificial: real ube is naturally violet, with a mellow, slightly nutty, vanilla-like sweetness. In a drink it turns milk a striking lilac and adds a soft, dessert-like flavour without tasting heavy.
Is an ube latte caffeinated?
On its own, no. A classic ube latte is caffeine-free, which makes it a good afternoon or evening drink. If you want the lift, add a shot of espresso or stir the ube blend into matcha. Both work well.
What you need
- 2 to 3 teaspoons of an ube latte powder or blend. We use Purple UAE Fog (our Yeah Lab x PERCUP blend) or the Atelier Marta Ube Latte. For a purer, less sweet cup, plain ube powder works too.
- 240ml milk. Any plant-based milk is great here. Oat keeps it creamy, coconut leans tropical.
- Sweetener to taste. Many blends are already sweetened, so taste before you add more.
- Ice, if you are making it cold.
How to make a hot ube latte
- Add the ube powder to a mug with a splash of hot (not boiling) water and whisk into a smooth paste. This is what stops lumps.
- Steam or warm 240ml of milk and froth it.
- Pour the milk over the paste, stir, taste and adjust the sweetness. That is it.
Iced ube latte
- Whisk the powder with a little warm water into a paste, then let it cool for a minute.
- Fill a glass with ice and cold milk.
- Pour the ube over the top for the two-tone look, then stir before drinking.
Ways to change it up
Add a shot of espresso for an ube dirty latte, stir it into matcha for an ube-matcha, or add a pinch of sea salt for contrast. If you would rather skip the mixing, Sparkling Ube Matcha is a ready-to-drink option.
Frequently asked questions
What does ube taste like?
Mild, sweet and vanilla-like with a nutty edge. It reads as dessert without being overpowering.
Is ube the same as taro?
No. Both are purple-ish roots, but ube is a yam with a sweeter, more vanilla flavour, while taro is starchier and more neutral.
Is an ube latte healthy?
Ube itself is a vegetable with fibre and antioxidants. How healthy the drink is comes down to the blend and how much sweetener you add, so check the label if that matters to you.
Can I make an ube latte without a special powder?
You can use pure ube powder or ube halaya (jam), but a ready ube latte blend is the easiest route to a consistent cup.
Where can I buy ube latte powder in the UAE?
PERCUP stocks ube latte blends and powder with delivery across the UAE, usually in 2 to 4 days.
