What is Ube?
Have you seen customers walking out of one of our cafes with a vibrant purple drink? Fascinated by the color but too much of a creature of habit to branch out? You are likely looking at the Ube Latte! With its recognizable purple color and its sweet, nutty flavor, the ube latte has gained quite the loyal fanbase over the years – so much so that it sticks around for not one, but two seasons of our rotating specialty drink menu, and it will be around through the rest of the summer. Our version of the ube latte was originally inspired by the popular ube donut from Gurnee Donuts that appears in our cafes – made with espresso, our homemade Ube syrup, sweetened condensed milk, coconut cream, and your choice of milk, this latte is delicious both hot and iced.
But what exactly is ube?
Ube is a type of purple yam native to the Philippines, known not just for its vibrant violet hue but also for its distinct flavor—sweet, slightly nutty, and often compared to vanilla wafers or white chocolate. It's a staple in many Filipino desserts and has grown in global popularity thanks to its eye-catching color and rich, comforting taste.
Traditionally, ube is boiled and mashed into a jam or base which is then used in cakes, ice cream, tarts, and other sweet treats (like Gurnee Donuts ube donuts and Alo’s ube cinnamon rolls). But it’s also been creatively incorporated into savory dishes like gnocchi and dumplings, and of course, drinks like our cozy and colorful ube latte.
Because fresh ube can be hard to come upon outside of the Philippines, many recipes rely on more accessible forms like ube powder (which can be rehydrated), ube extract, or frozen, pre-grated ube. These pantry-friendly versions still deliver the signature flavor and color, making it easier than ever to explore this beloved ingredient.
Let us know how you plan to incorporate ube into your kitchen!
Maya Johnson
Meet Maya, a Wisconsin-native who studied biochemistry/molecular biology and neuroscience at Lake Forest College. She is A friendly face behind the bar at Highwood, known for striking up conversations about truly anything. Outside of pulling espresso shots, Maya is currently in the process of applying to Physician Assistant schools.