Ube-the vibrant purple yam beloved in Filipino desserts-has made its way into Trader Joe's snack aisle again, this time in the form of tea cookies. These Trader Joe's Ube Tea Cookies are small, crumbly, and eye-catching with their bold lavender hue. Sold in a 6-ounce resealable pouch for $4.49, they're an affordable way to try this trendy flavor.
But are they more than just pretty and purple?
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Review
These cookies are adorable. There's no denying that. Bite-sized and powdery like a classic shortbread or wedding cookie, they look festive enough for a tea party and bright enough for an Instagram post. But as with many ube-inspired snacks, I was curious to see if the flavor would hold up.
Texture-wise, these are soft, crumbly, and melt-in-your-mouth with a sandy, buttery consistency. If you've ever had Mexican wedding cookies or Russian tea cakes, you'll find the texture familiar.
Flavorwise, they're more subtle than you might expect. The ube flavor is present but delicate-a bit nutty, slightly earthy, and gently sweet. It's not overwhelming or artificial, which I appreciated. However, if you're new to ube or expecting bold, jammy yam flavor, these might come off as just "lightly sweet cookies."
One thing I did like was how balanced they felt-not overly sweet, and with a rich, buttery base. They're great with coffee or tea, and the resealable pouch makes them easy to portion out. That said, the powdered sugar coating can get messy, so maybe don't eat these while wearing black.
Overall, I'd call these a fun seasonal novelty. They won't be everyone's favorite, but if you enjoy shortbread cookies or have a soft spot for ube, they're worth trying.
Ingredients
The following are main ingredients for this:
- Wheat flour
- Butter
- Powdered sugar
- Ube puree
- Natural flavors
- Cornstarch
- Salt
Contains: wheat, milk
May contain traces of egg, soy, and tree nuts.
How to Enjoy
- Pair with hot tea or a light roast coffee
- Serve on a dessert platter with other ube treats
- Crumble over vanilla ice cream
- Enjoy straight from the bag as a midday snack
- Use as a cookie base for a no-bake crust
After taking a bite out of the cookie to show the inside:
FAQs about Trader Joe's Ube Tea Cookies
The following are commonly asked questions about this pruduct:
Ube has a slightly nutty, vanilla-like flavor that's mildly sweet and earthy. These cookies feature a gentle version of that flavor.
No-they're sweetened, but the powdered sugar coating is the main source of sweetness. The cookie itself is more buttery than sugary.
No, they contain wheat flour.
Yes, they typically show up during spring or summer as part of Trader Joe's rotating ube product line. If you can't find them in store, they are available through third-party sellers on Amazon.
Final Thoughts
Trader Joe's Ube Tea Cookies are a fun, seasonal twist on a traditional shortbread cookie. They may not hit as hard on flavor as some ube desserts, but the texture, presentation, and snackability are all solid. If you like buttery cookies and subtle sweetness-or just want to add a pop of purple to your snack drawer-these are worth tossing into your cart.
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Trader Joe's Ube Tea Cookies
Product Name: Trader Joe's Ube Tea Cookies
Product Description: Trader Joe's Ube Tea Cookies is part of a seasonal collection of ube flavored products.
Price: $4.49
Currency: USD
Availability: LimitedAvailability
Summary
Trader Joe's Ube Tea Cookies are returning and add to a growing lineup of seasonal Ube products
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Taste
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Value
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Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- Fun and unique: A different take on a classic shortbread cookie
- Great texture: Buttery, crumbly, and light
- Visually appealing: The purple color makes them stand out
- Not too sweet: Great for pairing with tea or coffee
- Affordable: Priced well at $2.99 per bag
Cons
- Mild flavor: May be too subtle for ube super fans
- Messy coating: Powdered sugar gets everywhere
- Seasonal: Not always in stock year-round
- Small bag: Easy to polish off in one sitting
Laura Smith Thompson says
I really like them but they are completely, totally almond shortbread... which I love. In Texas these are 3.99 for a 10oz box with 1 bag of cookies in the box. I bought 3 boxes, hoping they were awesome. I'll eat them because they are pretty tasty almond cookies, but they are NOT ube flavor.
becomebetty says
Thanks for sharing Laura!
Alek says
Ironically they haven't sold fresh ube. Should sell into the freezer section
becomebetty says
Or at least ube extract. That I've had to get off of Amazon. Thanks as always for stopping by!
Sherrie Mullis says
Make sure you read the ingredients on your ube extract- not natural artificial color and usually some propylene glycol.
becomebetty says
Thanks for sharing!
Mel says
Thanks for the review. Haven’t seen these in my TJs yet. The powder sugar seems wrong. The sweet potato cookies at my local Asian grocery taste like slightly sweet crackers. I just bought TJ ube pancake mix and looking forward to trying that.
becomebetty says
Thanks for sharing Mel!