Iced Strawberry Ube Latte Recipe

Make ube syrup

Combine ube halaya, sugar, and water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk or mash the ube until it breaks down into a smooth mixture. Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring frequently to fully dissolve sugar and dissolve lumps, about 4–6 minutes.

Reduce heat to low and simmer 2–3 more minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract and salt. Strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve into a clean jar or bowl, pressing solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Let cool to room temperature, then chill in the refrigerator if not using immediately. Yields about 6–8 tablespoons of syrup.

Prepare strawberry purée

Place chopped strawberries, lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon sugar in a small blender or food processor. Pulse until smooth but slightly textured, about 10–20 seconds. Taste and add up to 1 more tablespoon sugar if needed for sweetness.

Strain the purée through a fine sieve if you prefer a smoother texture, pressing with a spoon to extract juices. Keep chilled until assembly.

Pull espresso / brew coffee

Prepare 2 shots of espresso (about 2 oz) or 2 oz of strong brewed coffee. Allow to cool slightly so it doesn't melt the ice immediately.

Layer the drink

In a 16 oz glass, spoon 1.5–2 tablespoons of the chilled ube syrup into the bottom (adjust to taste). Add 2 tablespoons of the strawberry purée and swirl gently to create a marbled effect. Fill the glass with ice cubes (about 1 to 1 1/2 cups). Pour the cooled espresso over the ice.

Slowly pour 12 oz cold milk over the espresso to fill the glass. If you prefer sweeter, stir in 1 tablespoon simple syrup and mix gently to combine. For a decorative finish, drizzle 1 tablespoon chilled cream over the top so it sinks and creates a creamy swirl.

Using a straw or spoon, give a few gentle stirs to harmonize flavors while preserving some marbling from the ube and strawberry layers.

Sprinkle freeze-dried strawberry crumbs or place a thin fresh strawberry slice on the rim. Dust a tiny pinch (about 1/4 tsp) of ube powder or a drop of purple food coloring onto the cream swirl for extra color.

Serve immediately with a straw. Stir before drinking to enjoy the combined ube, strawberry, coffee, and milk flavors.