Ube and purple sweet potatoes are often confused with each other. They both have a deep purple color, so it's easy to think they're the same thing.
But they're actually different.
Ube is a type of purple yam commonly used in Filipino desserts like ube halaya, cakes, and ice cream. It has a mild sweetness and a distinct aroma.
Purple sweet potatoes are a type of sweet potato. They're usually sweeter and more starchy than ube, and they're often baked, roasted, or mashed like regular sweet potatoes.
In this guide, we'll look at the difference between ube and purple sweet potatoes, how they taste, and when you can use one instead of the other.
Jump to:
- What are Purple Sweet Potatoes?
- What is Ube?
- Ube vs Purple Sweet Potato
- Is Ube the Same as Taro?
- How to Buy Ube and Purple Sweet Potatoes
- How to Store Ube and Purple Sweet Potatoes
- How to Prepare Ube and Purple Sweet Potatoes
- Filipino Recipes with Ube
- FAQs About Ube and Purple Sweet Potatoes
- More Filipino Food Guide
- 💬 Comments
What are Purple Sweet Potatoes?
Purple sweet potatoes are a type of sweet potato with purple flesh inside.
They look similar to regular sweet potatoes, usually long with tapered ends. The skin can be light tan, reddish, or purple depending on the variety.
Two common varieties you'll see are:
Okinawan sweet potatoes - beige skin with purple flesh. They have a drier, starchy texture and a mild sweetness.
Stokes purple sweet potatoes - purple skin and deep purple flesh. They are slightly sweeter and become more vibrant when cooked.
Purple sweet potatoes are usually sweeter than ube and have a drier, more starchy texture. They're commonly baked, roasted, boiled, or mashed just like other sweet potatoes.
What is Ube?
Ube is a purple yam that's commonly grown in the Philippines and other parts of Southeast Asia.
It has rough brown skin and bright purple flesh inside. The color can range from light purple to deep violet.
When raw, ube is firm and starchy. After cooking, it becomes soft and creamy.
Ube is mostly used in Filipino desserts like ube halaya, ice cream, cakes, breads, and pastries. It has a mild sweetness and a flavor that's hard to compare to anything else.
Ube vs Purple Sweet Potato
Ube and purple sweet potatoes may look similar, but they are different plants and have some noticeable differences.
Taste
Purple sweet potatoes are usually sweeter. Ube is less sweet and has its own flavor and aroma.
Texture
Purple sweet potatoes are more starchy and can be a bit dry when cooked. Ube becomes softer and creamier.
Color
Both are purple, but ube often has a brighter purple color. The shade can vary depending on the variety and how it's cooked.
Skin
Ube has rough brown skin that looks a bit like bark. Purple sweet potatoes have smoother skin that can be tan, reddish, or purple.
Use
Purple sweet potatoes are usually baked, roasted, boiled, or mashed like regular sweet potatoes.
Ube is often cooked and mashed, then used in desserts like ube halaya, ice cream, cakes, and pastries.
Availability
Purple sweet potatoes are easy to find in many grocery stores.
Fresh ube is harder to find outside the Philippines, but you can often buy frozen grated ube, ube powder, or ube extract in Asian markets.
Ube powder can be used, but it doesn't taste quite the same as fresh or frozen ube. You can still use it in a pinch.
To use ube powder, mix it with a little hot water until it forms a thick paste.
Is Ube the Same as Taro?
No, ube and taro are different.
Ube has bright purple flesh and is usually used in desserts. It's slightly sweet with a light nutty taste.
Taro is usually white or pale with small purple specks inside. It has a mild, starchy taste.
Taro is often cooked like potatoes - boiled, steamed, or added to soups and savory dishes. Ube is more commonly used in sweets and desserts.
How to Buy Ube and Purple Sweet Potatoes
When buying purple sweet potatoes, choose ones that feel firm and heavy for their size. Avoid potatoes with soft spots, wrinkles, or mold.
Fresh ube can be harder to find outside the Philippines. If you do find fresh ube, look for roots that are firm with no soft spots or cracks.
In many Asian markets, you'll also find frozen grated ube, ube powder, or ube extract, which are often used for desserts.
How to Store Ube and Purple Sweet Potatoes
Store fresh ube and purple sweet potatoes in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Avoid refrigerating them while they are raw, since cold temperatures can affect their texture.
Check them occasionally and remove any that develop soft spots, mold, or signs of spoilage.
Once cooked, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will usually keep for about 3 to 5 days.
You can also freeze cooked ube or purple sweet potatoes if you want them to last longer.
How to Prepare Ube and Purple Sweet Potatoes
Before cooking, wash the skin well under running water to remove any dirt.
Peeling
Purple sweet potatoes can be peeled or cooked with the skin on.
Ube has thick, rough skin, so it is usually peeled before cooking.
Cutting
You can cook purple sweet potatoes whole or cut them into pieces.
Ube is often cut into chunks so it cooks faster.
Cooking
Purple sweet potatoes can be baked, roasted, boiled, or steamed like regular sweet potatoes.
Ube is usually boiled or steamed, then grated, mashed, or pureed for desserts.
Filipino Recipes with Ube
Ube is widely used in Filipino desserts because of its color and flavor. Here are some popular dishes that use ube:
- Ube halaya: A thick jam made with mashed ube, milk, and sugar.
- Halo-halo: A shaved ice dessert that often includes ube halaya along with beans, fruits, jellies, and milk.
- Ube ice cream: A creamy purple ice cream made with ube.
- Ube macapuno cake: Soft cake layers flavored with ube, filled or topped with macapuno and ube frosting.
- Ube cheese pandesal: A version of pandesal made with ube dough and sometimes filled with cheese.
- Ube crinkle cookies: Soft cookies rolled in powdered sugar that crack as they bake.
- Ube ensaymada: Sweet bread topped with butter, sugar, and cheese with ube mixed into the dough or filling.
- Ube kalamay: A sticky rice cake made with ube and coconut milk, usually topped with latik.
- Ube turon: A version of turon filled with ube halaya.
- Ube pastillas: Soft milk candies made with powdered milk, condensed milk, and ube.
- Ube polvoron: A crumbly Filipino candy made with toasted flour, powdered milk, sugar, butter, and ube.
- Inutak: Soft, sticky rice cake with ube and plain layers, topped with browned coconut cream.
FAQs About Ube and Purple Sweet Potatoes
No. Ube is a purple yam, while purple sweet potatoes are a type of sweet potato.
They may look similar, but they are different plants with different flavors and textures.
Sometimes. Purple sweet potatoes can work in some recipes, but the flavor and texture will not be exactly the same as ube.
Ube is slightly sweet with a mild, nutty flavor. It's commonly used in desserts like ice cream, cakes, and pastries.
Ube naturally contains pigments called anthocyanins, which give it its purple color.
Both contain fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, and can be part of a balanced diet when eaten in moderation.
More Filipino Food Guide
Did you like this post? I would love to know! Your feedback helps me make better recipes. Please rate, review, or comment below. Questions about this post are welcome, too!
Let's connect on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, Twitter, and Youtube. Be sure to tag me when you try any of my recipes @recipesbynora!
Karen says
I can't wait to try purple sweet potatoes. I always see them but never bought them. The purple sweet potato photo with butter looks delish!
Nora Rey says
Oh, you're in for a treat! 🍠💜 Purple sweet potatoes are not only visually stunning but also deliciously sweet and creamy. You won't be disappointed! That photo with butter is just the beginning of all the wonderful ways you can enjoy them.