Ube Matcha Latte
Ube matcha stacks two of the most visually loud ingredients in any café: violet-purple ube (Filipino purple yam) and neon-green matcha. It would be a gimmick if it didn't taste so good — ube's flavor is gentle vanilla-pistachio sweetness, which pads matcha's vegetal edge the way white chocolate does, just with more character. The easiest route at home is ube halaya (purple yam jam, sold at any Filipino or Asian grocery); ube extract plus condensed milk is the backup.
- Prep time
- 7 minutes
- Servings
- 1 glass (400 ml)
- Difficulty
- Easy
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp ube halaya (purple yam jam) — or 1/4 tsp ube extract + 1 tbsp condensed milk
- 220 ml cold milk (whole or oat), divided
- 1 tsp matcha powder
- 60 ml warm water (~75 °C / 165 °F)
- Ice — fill the glass
Instructions
- 1Whisk the ube halaya with a splash (about 30 ml) of the milk until it loosens into a thick, pourable purple cream. If using extract, stir it into the condensed milk instead.
- 2Spoon the ube layer into the bottom of a tall glass. Add ice to three-quarters full.
- 3Pour the rest of the cold milk slowly over the ice.
- 4Sift the matcha, whisk with the warm water until smooth and frothy, and pour it gently over the back of a spoon onto the milk.
- 5Serve with a long spoon; stir at the table. Purple, white, green — then one violet-green swirl.
Tips
- Ube halaya brands vary a lot in sweetness — taste yours before deciding whether the drink needs any extra sugar (it usually doesn't).
- Don't substitute taro powder for ube. Related vibes, different flavor — taro is starchier and needs more sugar to land.
- Whole milk holds the three layers better than thin plant milks; oat is the best non-dairy option.
- A tiny pinch of salt in the ube layer makes the vanilla notes pop.
FAQ
What is ube and what does ube matcha taste like?
Ube is a purple yam used in Filipino desserts, with a mild vanilla-pistachio sweetness. In ube matcha, it plays the sweet cream role under matcha's grassy bitterness — the combination reads like a green tea dessert rather than a tea.
Where do I buy ube halaya?
Filipino groceries, most pan-Asian supermarkets, and online. It's a shelf-stable jar labeled 'ube halaya' or 'purple yam jam.' One jar makes 8 to 10 drinks and keeps refrigerated for weeks after opening.
Can I make ube matcha without ube halaya?
Yes — stir 1/4 teaspoon of ube extract into a tablespoon of condensed milk and use that as the bottom layer. The flavor is slightly more artificial but the color is even more vivid.