Trader Joe's Has a New Ube Spread for the Purple Yam Stans (2024)

FAQs

Trader Joe's Has a New Ube Spread for the Purple Yam Stans? ›

While products like Ube Ice Cream and Ube Mochi Pancake & Waffle Mix have lined TJ's shelves for years, 2022 has gifted us with a new ube product, Ube Spread, which you can slather on toast, add to a latte, or use to fill pastries.

Given this nutritional profile, can we consider ube spread healthy? We'll just say it's best enjoyed in moderation. While not vegan, Trader Joe's spread contains 60 calories, three grams of fat (two grams saturated fat), seven grams of added sugar, and no protein—all for just a one tablespoon serving.

For a simple way to dip into your Ube Spread stash, use it to top pancakes like TikTok user @doll_legs did. The spread is a great substitute for maple syrup on any type of pancakes, and works as a sweet waffle or French toast topper as well. Add some homemade whipped cream and sliced fruit for a really decadent meal.

Ube halaya is the main base in ube/purple yam flavored-pastries and ube ice cream. It can also be incorporated in other desserts such as halo-halo. It is also commonly anglicized as ube jam, or called by its original native name, nilupak na ube.

Raw ube tubers are seasonally available and are oftentimes in short supply. This purple variety of yam is today's most expensive and important root crop in the Philippines due to its high demand in the food processing industry and its therapeutic values.

Purple yam is good for several reasons. It offers a good amount of dietary fibre, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It can support digestive health, provide antioxidant protection, help regulate blood sugar levels, contribute to weight management, and promote overall well-being.

Loaded with anthocyanins, beta carotene, protein, and vitamin C, purple yams possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-boosting properties. While they may not be a magic cure, incorporating purple yams into your diet can significantly reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases and promote overall wellness.

Ube is actually a purple yam. that originated from the Philippines, while taro. is a root that's enjoyed in many different continents. Ube and taro are often confused for each other. because of their rich purple color in many desserts, but taro is naturally white.

If you are able to source ube in fresh form, you should not store the whole ube in the refrigerator, as you would other starchy vegetables. Store them somewhere dry, dark and cool. The best way to preserve cooked ube is to cover it tightly in cling wrap or keep it in an airtight container to keep it from drying out.

Ube tastes mildly sweet (but sweeter than taro and a sweet potato), with a nutty flavor, and is a bit like a vanilla baked good. That's why it's commonly paired with coconut and white chocolate in desserts.

What is ube called in English? ›

Dioscorea alata is a species of yam commonly referred to as purple yam, ube, violet yam, or water yam. This tuberous root vegetable originates from Southeast Asia and is often confused with taro root.

The correct ube pronunciation is “oo-bay”. The word means “yam” or “tuber” in Tagalog, a native language in the Philippines. It is occasionally referred to as ubi or winged yam when sold in seed catalogs in the United States.

Much of the hype surrounding ube solely fixates on its aesthetics. Ube has a distinctive nutty, vanilla-like flavor profile, but praise is mainly awarded to its bright violet hue, which provides a pop of color in savory dishes, desserts and baked goods.

Ube likely first arrived in Hawai'i with the sakadas, Filipino migrant workers who came to the islands starting in the early 1900s to work on the growing cane and pineapple plantations; Barbosa's own great-grandparents were sakadas, and her paternal grandmother was born on O'ahu in 1921.

Originating from the Philippines, ube is a starchy root vegetable that belongs to the yam family. You may be familiar with its close cousin, the sweet potato. Ube is a deep royal purple, and has long been the crown on top of the Philippines' national dessert – halo-halo.

greenish color as a result from its baking process. browning effect gives the base a “green-ish” color. Therefore, this is entirely natural.

Ube is a good source of dietary fiber, which plays a vital role in promoting gut health. Fiber helps keep you feeling full and satisfied, aids in digestion, and may even help regulate blood sugar levels.

Trader Joe's is a great place to stock up on staples like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, lean proteins, and healthy fats. With low prices and attractive packaging, it's also easy to grab certain items that may not be nutritionally sound.

And like the more common yams, ube is packed with immune-supporting vitamins A and C, as well as potassium, a mineral that acts as a natural de-bloater, and helps regulate heart function and blood pressure, and prevent muscle cramps.

Taro Nutrition. In terms of calories, taro and ube are very similar, with around 140 to 180 calories per serving. Ube is higher in sugar and has lots of antioxidants. Because it has a low glycemic index, meaning the carbohydrates and sugars get metabolized by your body very slowly, it can also help regulate blood sugar ...