What is the difference between Taro and Ube?

Ube Nederland
Jul 10
6 min read

If you've noticed a lot of purple drinks, desserts, or bubble tea lately, you've probably also come across the names ube and taro . These two ingredients are often used together, especially in cafes, bubble tea shops, and Asian dessert stores. And let's be honest: at first glance, the confusion is understandable.

Both are frequently used in sweet drinks and desserts. Both can be purple in color. Both have a soft, creamy appearance. And both are enjoying increasing popularity in Europe.

But then the question arises: Is Taro Ube?

The short answer is: No, Taro and Ube are not the same.

Although often confused, ube and taro are two different ingredients with different origins, tastes, colors, and uses. Therefore, anyone wanting to prepare a genuine ube latte, ube cake, or ube dessert should know the difference.

In this blog we explain what Ube and Taro are, why they are often confused, and when to use which plant.

Is Taro the same as Ube?

No, Taro is not the same as Ube.

Ube is a purple yam known for its deep purple color, soft texture, and slightly sweet, nutty flavor. It is commonly used in Filipino desserts such as ube halaya, ube ice cream , ube cake, and ube milk drinks .

Taro is another type of tuber commonly used in Asian cuisine. Taro typically has a lighter interior color, often speckled white or light purple, and a rather earthy, nutty, and starchy flavor.

The difference between taro and ube is therefore not just in the name. They taste different, look different, and behave differently in recipes.

What is Ube?

Ube is a purple yam, primarily known in Filipino cuisine. It has long been used in sweets and desserts there. Its color typically ranges from lilac to violet, making it instantly recognizable.

Ube has a mild, slightly sweet, creamy flavor with a subtle nutty note. Some compare its taste to vanilla, white chocolate, coconut, or a delicate sweet potato. Precisely because its flavor isn't too intense, ube is ideally suited for a wide variety of products.

UBE can be used for, among other things:

Ube is interesting for cafes and restaurants because it not only imparts a beautiful purple color but also contributes a distinctive, mild flavor. It is eye-catching enough to pique customers' curiosity, yet uncomplicated enough to be suitable for widespread use.

What is Taro?

Taro is a tuber widely used in Asian, African, and Caribbean cuisine. Unlike ube, taro is not naturally deep purple. The inside of the taro tuber is often white, cream-colored, or speckled with light purple.

Taro has an earthier, starchy flavor. It's less sweet than ube and is more often used in savory dishes. Think steamed taro, taro chips, taro puree, or taro in stews.

Many people know taro primarily from bubble tea. Taro milk tea is popular because of its creamy taste and light purple color. However, this purple color often doesn't come solely from the taro itself. Many commercially produced taro drinks use food colorings or flavorings to give them the characteristic purple hue.

That's precisely why Taro and Ube are often confused.

Why are Taro and Ube so often confused?

The most important reason is the color.

Many people see a purple drink and immediately think of ube. In fact, a purple drink can also be made from taro, purple sweet potato, food coloring, flavorings, or a mixture of various ingredients.

Furthermore, the terms are sometimes used carelessly in bars and on social media. A drink might be called "ube" because it sounds trendy, even though it actually consists mainly of taro or a purple flavoring mix. Conversely, something might be called taro even though it contains ube.

This is confusing for consumers. It can also pose a problem for restaurants, especially if they sell a product as UBE when it doesn't actually contain any.

If you promise your customers a genuine Ube Latte , Ube Cold Foam or a Ube Dessert , then you also want the taste and color to match what Ube is supposed to be.

Taste Difference: Ube vs. Taro

The biggest difference between Ube and Taro lies in the taste.

Ube is generally sweeter, creamier, and more delicate. It has a subtle, vanilla-like and nutty aroma. Therefore, ube goes perfectly with desserts, milk drinks, ice cream, and pastries.

Taro is less sweet and has a more earthy flavor. It is mild, nutty, and starchy. Therefore, taro is suitable for both sweet and savory dishes, but it doesn't offer the same dessert-like taste as ube.

For a creamy, purple, and slightly sweet drink, ube is often the better choice. However, if you're looking for an earthy, starchy base, taro is more suitable.

Color difference

Ube is known for its natural purple color. Depending on the quality and processing, the color can vary from light lavender to a deep purple.

Taro is typically much lighter in color. The interior is often speckled white or light purple. Therefore, taro does not naturally achieve the same deep purple color as ube.

This is important for cafes and restaurants. For those who want to prepare a striking purple latte, purple cold foam, or a purple dessert, ube is often a better choice. It provides a more natural connection to the characteristic purple color.

Can Taro be replaced by Ube?

Sometimes that's possible, but it depends on the recipe.

In sweet drinks and desserts, taro can often be replaced with ube if a sweeter, creamier, and more intense flavor is desired. Examples include milk tea , latte macchiato , ice cream , cakes, or pancakes .

Conversely, it's a bit trickier. If a recipe specifically calls for ube, taro won't produce exactly the same result. The taste will be less sweet and less clearly recognizable as ube. The color may also be different.

Therefore, for a true Ube Latte or a true Ube Dessert , it is better to use Ube powder instead of Taro.

Is Ube better than Taro?

Not necessarily. They're simply different ingredients.

Taro is very versatile and works well in savory dishes, bubble tea, and creamy foods. Ube, on the other hand, is better suited as an ingredient for desserts and drinks due to its color, mild flavor, and natural sweetness.

Ube is particularly interesting for modern cafes, ice cream parlors, bakeries, and bubble tea shops due to its striking visual appeal. The purple color immediately catches the eye, while the taste remains approachable. This makes Ube ideal for products that customers want to sample and photograph.

Hold:

Why real UBE is important

As ube becomes increasingly popular, more and more products are labeled as "ube" that don't actually contain real ube. Sometimes taro is used, sometimes purple sweet potato, and sometimes it's mostly coloring and flavorings.

That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's important to be honest about what you're selling. When customers specifically search for ube, they expect the taste and appearance of genuine ube.

This is particularly important for restaurants and cafes. A good ube product can pique customers' curiosity, while a mediocre imitation can be disappointing. Especially now, as more and more people discover ube, quality is becoming increasingly important.

Conclusion: Is Taro Ube?

No, Taro is not Ube.

Taro and ube are often confused, but they are not the same. Ube is a purple yam with a soft, sweet, and creamy flavor. Taro, on the other hand, is a different tuber with a milder, earthier, and starchier taste.

For purple desserts, ube lattes, ube cold foam, and modern coffee drinks, ube is usually the best choice. It not only provides a beautiful purple color but also the unmistakably mild flavor for which ube is known.

Want to use ube creatively in drinks, desserts, or in the food service industry? Then use high-quality ube powder as a base. It makes it easy to prepare ube lattes , ube cold foam , ube milk tea , ube cakes, and other appealing, purple creations.

Try our Ube powder and discover how you can use real Ube for your menu, recipes, or catering business.

In short

Is Taro the same as Ube?

No, taro and ube are different ingredients.

What is Ube?

Ube is a purple yam root with a soft, slightly sweet and creamy taste.

What is Taro?

Taro is another type of tuber with a milder, earthy and starchy taste.

Why do they look alike?

Because both are frequently used in Asian drinks and desserts and sometimes have a purple color.

What do you use for Ube Latte or Ube Cold Foam?

For an authentic ube flavor, use ube powder , not taro.

Buy Ube powder