Posted by UBE.25
Ube powder seems simple: dried and ground purple yam. However, what is in the bag varies considerably by brand. In this article, you will learn how ube powder is made, where the color comes from, and what to look for when reading the label.
How is ube powder made?
- Harvesting and cleaning. The ube is harvested, washed, and peeled.
- Steaming. The tuber is gently steamed until it is cooked and tender.
- Drying. Then the ube is slowly dried at a low temperature. This helps preserve its flavor and color as much as possible.
- Grinding. Finally, the dried ube is finely ground into powder.
What is in UBE.25?
UBE.25 ube powder contains two ingredients:
- 99.7% ube from the Philippines
- 0.3% natural vanilla
No sugar, no milk powder, no coloring, and no flavor enhancers. This allows you to decide how sweet or creamy your drink will be.
Where does the purple color come from?
The deep purple color is naturally found in the tuber and comes from anthocyanins. These are natural colorings also found in blueberries, grapes, and red cabbage. A small amount of powder provides a lot of color. Did you know that the color changes? With something acidic, such as lime juice, ube turns pinker. With baking soda, it can turn bluish.
What to look for on the label?
Not every purple latte contains real ube. Look out for the following:
- The percentage of ube. Is ube listed first, and what percentage is it? Some mixes consist mostly of sugar or creamer.
- Added coloring. If E-numbers or "coloring" are listed on the label, the color does not come solely from the ube.
- Flavoring instead of ube. "Ube flavor" or "ube flavoring" often means that there is very little real ube in it.
- Serving size per drink. A bag may seem affordable, but calculate how many grams you need per latte.
Is ube powder vegan and caffeine-free?
Yes. Ube is a tuber and contains no animal ingredients or caffeine. With plant-based milk, you can make a completely plant-based latte. Read more about caffeine in what is ube?
How do you use ube powder?
Whisk 2 to 2.5 grams of powder with 20 ml of hot water and add 180 to 200 ml of warm or cold milk. This is how you make an ube latte. Prefer it cold? Try the iced ube latte. A bamboo whisk helps dissolve the powder without lumps.
Then store the powder tightly sealed, in a cool, dry place away from direct light.
