If you’ve been to Peet’s Coffee or Starbucks lately, you might’ve noticed a wave of striking purple drinks taking over menus. While lavender plays a role in these Instagrammable beverages, ube is also having a major moment.
Ube—a vibrant purple yam—has been used in the Philippines for centuries. In fact, its earliest recorded mention dates back to a Tagalog–Spanish dictionary from 1613. In the West, it’s a newer obsession, thanks not only to its bold violet hue but also its subtly sweet, nutty, and earthy flavor.
There are plenty of ways to enjoy ube, from iced lattes to chocolates and ice cream. Below, discover a few of our favorite ways to get in on this ultra-purple trend.
1 Pocket’s Chocolates Ube Chocolate Almonds
These chocolate almonds make the perfect sweet snack. Coated in creamy oat milk and infused with sweet, earthy ube, they deliver plenty of flavor along with a satisfying crunch from the almond. Best of all, they’re made with 100 percent real ingredients.
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Narra
2Narra Oat Milk Tea Latte
Don’t have time to swing by Starbucks? Keep one of these Narra Ube Vanilla Oat Milk Lattes in your fridge, and you’re set. They’re creamy, naturally sweetened with raw demerara sugar, and packed with rich ube flavor. Even better, it’s a Filipinx-owned brand.
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Better Boba
3 Better Boba All-Natural Ube Boba Pearls
Boba is also having a major moment right now. While you can always head to a shop for your fix, it’s just as easy to make this Taiwanese drink at home. For an ube twist, try these all-natural boba pearls from Better Boba—they’re perfectly chewy, packed with flavor, and made with just a handful of simple ingredients, including tapioca flour, ube, and vanilla.
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Yulu Foods
4 Yulu Foods Salted Ube Instant Cold Foam Sticks
We love a coffee house iced latte with cold foam, but let’s be honest, those trips to your local barista can add up. Cut back on the splurges by keeping Yulu Foods’ Salted Ube Cold Foam sticks on hand. They’re ultra-creamy and incredibly easy to make—just whisk with water for 30 seconds.
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Ancient Extracts
5 Ancient Extracts Ube Matcha Tea
Matcha girlies, this one’s for you. This ritual-grade purple matcha powder from Ancient Extracts adds vibrant color and flavor to everything from lattes to teas. It’s also caffeine-free, making it ideal for winding down in the evening.
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6 Kuli Kuli Ube Coconut Organic Superfood Latte
Another latte option comes from Kuli Kuli. This blend stands out because it doesn’t just feature ube—it also includes a nutrient-dense mix of purple tea and lucuma. The latter, an Andean fruit, is known for its potential gut health benefits.
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Fila Manila
7 Fila Manila Ube Coconut Spread
Listen, we all love classic peanut butter—but if you’re in the mood to switch things up, you can’t go wrong with Fila Manila’s Ube Coconut Spread. It’s smooth, creamy, earthy, and just a little sweet—perfect for spreading on toast or drizzling over pancakes.
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Jans
8Jans Ube Powder
Ube cupcakes? Count us in. Jan’s Ube Powder is perfect for adding both flavor and vibrant color to everything from icing to cakes and even ice cream. Why not try it in our favorite Coconut Lemon Ube Cheesecake?
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Portland Syrups
9 Portland Syrups Ube Syrup
If you’re hosting a dinner party soon and want to impress your guests, try adding a splash of ube syrup to your cocktails—it tastes great and looks stunning, too. Not a cocktail fan? No problem. Drizzle it into coffee, smoothies, or milkshakes—basically anything you like.
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Andia’s Ice Cream
10Andia’s Ice Cream Vegan Ube Ice Cream
If you’re tired of the usual vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry options in the freezer aisle, it might be time to try something new. We recommend ordering vegan ube ice cream from Andia’s Ice Cream. Thanks to Goldbelly, this popular local shop can ship its unique, flavor-packed creations straight to your door.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
Here at VegNews, we live and breathe the plant-based lifestyle, and only recommend products we feel make our lives amazing. Occasionally, articles may include links where we might earn a small commission, but in no way does this effect the editorial integrity of VegNews.
