This article is not available in this language yet
We haven't translated this guide into your selected language yet, but you can read the full original article in English.
Read Article in EnglishVanliga frågor
Is ube a sweet potato?
No. Ube is a true yam (Dioscorea alata) from the Dioscoreaceae family. Sweet potatoes belong to Convolvulaceae. They're different plants with different origins, even though grocery stores sometimes label them the same way.
What's the difference between ube and purple sweet potato taste?
Ube tastes sweet with nutty, vanilla like notes and a smooth, creamy texture. Purple sweet potato tastes earthier and starchier, with a drier texture that holds its shape better once cooked.
Can I use purple sweet potato instead of ube?
Yes, but the result won't match. You'll lose ube's signature vanilla nutty flavor and creamy texture, even if the color still turns out purple.
Why is ube purple?
Ube gets its purple color from anthocyanins, natural plant pigments also found in blueberries and red cabbage. These compounds carry antioxidant properties too.
Is Okinawan sweet potato the same as ube?
No. Okinawan sweet potato is a purple sweet potato variety (Ipomoea batatas), first grown in Okinawa back in the 17th century. Ube is a separate species (Dioscorea alata) native to Southeast Asia.
How can I tell ube and purple sweet potato apart at the store?
Check the skin. Ube has rough, bark like, irregular skin. Purple sweet potato has smoother, thinner skin, either light brown (Stokes Purple) or beige (Okinawan). For packaged goods, check the ingredient label for the Latin name.
Is ube a yam or a sweet potato?
Ube is a true yam, botanically speaking. It's not related to sweet potatoes at all, no matter how often US grocery stores mislabel orange sweet potatoes as yams.
Does ube taste like purple sweet potato?
They're close but not the same. Both taste sweet, but ube leans nuttier and more vanilla forward, and purple sweet potato tastes more like a standard sweet potato with a purple tint.
Why do American stores sell purple sweet potato as ube?
Real ube can be tricky to source consistently in the US, so some stores and brands use purple sweet potato as a stand in because of the matching color, even though flavor and texture don't line up.
What is Stokes Purple sweet potato?
Stokes Purple is a specific purple sweet potato variety patented in the mid 2000s. It has thin, light to medium brown skin and vivid purple flesh that darkens further once cooked.