Ube Syrup
Ube is having a moment, and we get it. The Philippine purple yam delivers two things at once — a stunning natural purple hue that turns any drink into something Instagram-worthy, plus a flavor that's harder to describe than expected: think creamy vanilla with a toasted, nutty finish and a subtle earthiness that keeps it from being one-note. It's tropical without tasting like fruit punch.
Stir half an ounce into a latte and watch your morning oat milk turn purple before your eyes. Whip it into cold foam for a matcha or coffee topper that looks like art. Splash it into a daiquiri or mojito for a tropical cocktail with a stunning color story. Mix with sparkling coconut water for a tropical sip that tastes like a beach vacation in a glass.
Tasting Notes: creamy vanilla, toasted nutty depth, soft floral edge, mellow earthy finish
The Short Version: A naturally vibrant purple syrup made from Philippine ube (purple yam) — creamy vanilla character with toasted, nutty depth, designed to turn lattes, cocktails, and mocktails into something more interesting.
Ingredients: Filtered water, organic cane sugar, natural flavors, ube powder.
Perfect For: Coffee shop trend-followers, matcha latte fans, Filipino food enthusiasts, brunch hosts, Instagram-driven home baristas, and anyone who likes their drinks photogenic.
Best Enjoyed In: Ube lattes (½ oz syrup + espresso + steamed milk), ube cold foam (over iced matcha or coffee), ube daiquiris, ube colada cocktails, or 1 oz syrup + 6 oz sparkling coconut water for a tropical purple soda.
The Portland Syrups Promise: Ethically sourced, carefully brewed, and bottled in glass jars right here in SE Portland, Oregon.
Get Inspired
- A tropical, alcohol-free Ube Coconut Cooler for hot summer days
- A coconut-rum Ube Colada for tropical cocktail night
- A bold iced Ube Café Latte for caffeinated mornings
- A dreamy layered Ube Matcha Latte for matcha lovers
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long does the syrup last after opening?
A: Our syrups are shelf-stable for 24 months unopened. Once opened, refrigerate and enjoy within 6 months.
Q: What is ube and what does it taste like?
A: Ube (pronounced "OO-beh") is a purple yam native to the Philippines, used widely in Filipino desserts, drinks, and pastries. The flavor is hard to compare to anything Western — most people describe it as a cross between vanilla and toasted coconut, with a subtle nuttiness and earthy edge. It's sweeter and more dessert-leaning than taro (which is often confused with ube), and it's most famous for its vivid natural purple color, which makes it photograph beautifully in lattes and cocktails. If you've had ube ice cream, ube halaya, or ube cake, you know the flavor.
Q: Is ube the same as taro?
A: No, but they're often confused. Both are root vegetables with mild, slightly sweet flavors, but they're different plants. Ube is a purple yam native to Southeast Asia with a deep purple color and a creamier, vanilla-leaning flavor. Taro is grayer or white-pink with darker purple specks, and tastes more starchy and earthier than ube. In drinks, ube is sweeter and more dessert-leaning; taro is more subtle and closer to a savory root. Our syrup uses ube specifically — for the color and the flavor.