Nailing the purple colour
That beautiful purple is mostly a matter of dosing. Here is how to get the perfect shade with ube powder, from soft pastel to intense purple.
Colour, a matter of dosing
With ube, the more powder you add, the more intense the colour. For a latte, count about one teaspoon per cup: it's the ideal starting point, to adjust to the effect you want.
Since the colour comes from the plant (the anthocyanins), it's adjustable: a little powder for a soft purple, more for a deep purple.
The right move: dilute first
For an even, lump-free colour, always mix the powder with a little hot water before adding the milk. You get a smooth paste that then disperses perfectly.
A whisk or a small milk frother works wonders to dissolve the powder and get a nicely uniform purple.
More purple? Adjust the dose
Want a more dramatic purple? Gradually increase the amount of powder, half a teaspoon at a time. Careful: a stronger dose also (slightly) intensifies the taste, but since ube is mild, it stays very pleasant.
Conversely, for a delicate pastel, a small pinch of powder is enough.
Hot or cold, it changes a little
In a cold drink, remember to dissolve the powder well in a little hot water first, otherwise the colour can stay uneven. In a hot drink, everything mixes more easily.
The type of milk also plays a role: a lighter milk (oat, almond) lets the purple stand out more than a very white, opaque milk.
The final colour depends on three things: the powder dose, the dilution, and the milk. By tweaking these, you get exactly the shade you want.
The perfect purple, to your taste
There's no «universal» dose: it all depends on the intensity you like. Start with a teaspoon, look, then adjust.
- ~1 teaspoon per cup to start.
- Dilute first in a little hot water (anti-lump).
- More powder = more intense purple; light milk = more vibrant colour.
See which milk to choose, how to use the powder, or the ube latte recipe.
The purple, the way you like it.
Our Kinampay ube powder colours naturally, from pastel to deep purple. It's up to you to dose.
Your questions: colour.
How much ube powder for a latte?
About one teaspoon per cup to start, to adjust to the intensity of colour and taste you want.
How to get a more intense purple?
Increase the powder dose in small steps (half a teaspoon at a time) and use a light milk, which lets the colour stand out better.
Why is my colour uneven?
The powder wasn't dissolved well. Mix it first with a little hot water to form a smooth paste, then add the milk.
Does the milk change the colour?
Yes, a little. A lighter milk (oat, almond) gives a more vibrant purple than a very white, opaque milk.
Does a stronger dose change the taste?
Slightly: more powder also intensifies the flavour. But since ube is mild and vanilla-like, it stays very pleasant.