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💜 Ube and Taro: Two Trending Roots Shaking Up the World of Bubble Tea
In Europe’s growing bubble tea scene, ube and taro are bringing new color, new flavor and a refreshing twist to the usual matcha-based drinks. Loved for their smooth taste and naturally vibrant hues, these two roots are making waves on menus and social media alike.
Getting to Know Ube and Taro
Taro is a starchy root vegetable commonly used in Taiwanese cooking. Its taste is subtle, slightly nutty and often compared to rice pudding. In powdered form, it blends easily into milk teas, giving them a soft lavender tone and gentle sweetness.
Ube, also known as purple yam, comes from the Philippines. With its bold violet color and naturally sweet, vanilla-like flavor, it’s long been a favorite in Filipino desserts. Now, ube powder is gaining momentum in drinks, from bubble tea to the beloved ube latte.
While taro brings a calm, creamy experience, ube delivers a brighter, more playful flavor that instantly stands out.
Why Ube Is a Favorite in Drinks
Ube has a naturally rich taste, a vibrant purple color, and a unique nutritional profile. Traditionally used in desserts like halo-halo or ube halaya, it’s now reinventing itself in modern recipes.
Ube powder is made by gently cooking, drying and grinding the purple yam. The result is a fine, shelf-stable powder you can stir into lattes, milk teas, smoothies or even cakes. It's rich in antioxidants, fiber, and naturally low in sugar, a flavorful and nourishing option for creative drinks.
Ube and Taro in Bubble Tea
Across bubble tea cafés in Europe and beyond, both ube and taro are now staples on the menu. Typically served as flavored milk teas, they’re blended with milk or water and often paired with tapioca pearls.
While some pre-mixed powders contain added flavors or dyes, many now seek pure ube powder to control the sweetness and preserve the natural color, especially those looking for more mindful ingredients.
What’s Fueling the Trend?
People are falling in love with these two roots for several reasons.
They’re naturally sweet, which means less need for syrups or additives.
They’re visually stunning, the soft lavender of taro and the bold violet of ube create drinks that are impossible to ignore.
And most of all, they connect drinkers to Asian culinary heritage in a fun and modern way.
Where green tea once reigned, ube and taro are offering a vibrant alternative, and for many, ube stands out as the new go-to thanks to its flavor, versatility and caffeine-free profile.
Experience Ube at Home with Ube Lab
At Ube Lab, we offer pure ube powder made from real purple yam. No additives, no dyes — just the natural beauty of this incredible root. Whether you’re crafting a bubble tea, a cozy latte or a bright dessert, our powder is designed to help you bring color and creativity into every sip.
Ready to try it for yourself?
Shop our ube powder and explore what makes purple the new favorite in wellness drinks.