London Fog may sound like a weather report for the capital of the United Kingdom. Spoiler alert - it isn't. So what is a London Fog? It's actually a latte with a base of earl grey steeped in boiling water, layered with frothy hot milk and a touch of vanilla.
The “London Fog” consists of the classically British Earl Grey, which is a mixture of black tea and bergamot oil, adding citrusy notes to the flavor profile. Despite the name, it is said to have been created in Vancouver, Canada.
Stay tuned to discover how to make a London Fog.
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With hints of vanilla, London Fog has a refreshing combination of floral black tea and a subtle zest – this flavor hits all your taste buds.
The caffeine content in a London Fog makes it a fantastic morning energizer or afternoon pick-me-up.
Ingredients
To make yourself a comforting London Fog, all you need is an earl grey tea-bag, hot milk of choice, vanilla, and any sweetener you’d like.
- 1 Earl Grey tea bag
- ½ cup hot water
- 1 teaspoon sugar, honey, agave nectar or your favorite sweetener - or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup hot milk (or almond milk if you would like a dairy free alternative)
- cinnamon
Tools
- mug
- kettle
- milk frother or whisk
Step #1. Infuse
Add the hot water to a mug. Infuse the tea bag in the hot water for about 5 minutes. Remove the tea bag.
Step #2. Sweeten
Add the vanilla and sugar, to taste. Stir to dissolve the sugar.
Step #3. Froth the Milk
Whisk the hot milk until it forms froth at the top.
- you can use a milk frother or whisk to froth the hot milk
- or you can steam cold milk with an espresso machine steam wand
Step #4. Add Milk to Tea
Pour the frothed milk into the hot tea. Spoon any leftover froth on top.
Step #5. Sprinkle With Cinnamon
Sprinkle the tea latte with a pinch of cinnamon powder.
Step #6. Enjoy!
Serve and enjoy!
This simple recipe is your ticket to enjoying a DIY café-quality mug of London Fog at home – or a fancy British teacup if you prefer. It results in a pale caramel-colored drink beneath a creamy, white cloud of milk froth.
Add Ins
- If you’re really feeling luxurious, sprinkle some dried lavender on top. Alternatively, you can infuse lavender with the earl grey in the water, to really complete the floral flavor of the London Fog drink.
- If you're in the mood for something stronger, try adding a touch of amaretto.
Top Tips
- When you are frothing the milk, make sure the bowl or pitcher can hold extra volume because the milk will expand to approximately double in size. It will need the extra room!
- It is better to use hot water rather than boiling water so that you don't scald the tea leaves. For best results, you can boil the water in the kettle and then leave it for a few minutes before steeping the tea. It will still be nice and hot with great flavor.
- Using fresh, cold water in the kettle will result in a better tasting cup of tea. If you keep re-boiling the water in the kettle, it can become flat because it loses oxygen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, a standard cup of Earl Grey tea does have about 40 milligrams of caffeine because it contains black tea.
It tastes slightly sweet and creamy with the black tea and bergamot oil adding bitter, citrusy notes to the flavor profile and it has a hint of vanilla.
You can froth the hot milk with a whisk by hand. You can also froth cold milk with the steam wand on an espresso machine.
It should only take about 5 minutes to extract the full flavor from the tea bag.
The London Fog Latte will make you feel like you’re roaming the streets of London – hopefully with more sunlight than fog.
Did you enjoy this London Fog recipe? Let me know in the comments and please share the recipe!
📋Recipe
How to Make a London Fog
Ingredients
- 1 Earl Grey tea bag
- ½ cup hot water
- 1 teaspoon sugar, honey or your favorite sweetener - or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup hot milk - or almond milk
- 1 pinch ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Add the hot water to a mug. Infuse the tea bag in the hot water for about 5 minutes. Remove the tea bag.
- Add the vanilla and sugar, to taste. Stir to dissolve the sugar.
- Whisk the hot milk until it forms froth at the top. (You can either use a milk frother or whisk for the hot milk, or you can steam cold milk with an espresso machine steam wand.)
- Pour the frothed milk into the hot tea. Spoon any leftover froth on top of the tea.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon.
- Serve.
Equipment
Notes
- When you are frothing the milk, make sure the bowl or pitcher can hold extra volume because the milk will expand to approximately double in size. It will need the extra room!
- It is better to use hot water rather than boiling water so that you don't scald the tea leaves.
- Using fresh, cold water in the kettle will result in a better tasting cup of tea. If you keep re-boiling the water in the kettle, it can become flat because it loses oxygen.
Nutrition
Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.
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Tara says
I love this London Fog recipe. I’m feeling like a barista! Lol. Thank you.
Joss D says
haha thanks!
Sierra says
I love this recipe! It’s one of the only hot drinks that I enjoy as a coffee alternative. Thank you.
Joss D says
That's great Sierra! Thank you for the comment. I like drinking it instead of coffee sometimes as well.
Sai Gon says
Very detailed step by step
I love it when you add honey, noted it!
Thank you so much for your post
Joss D says
Thanks Sai 🙂
Sabrina says
So warm, delicious and comforting. Thanks for breaking it down to easy steps, this is great!
Joss D says
Comforting is right! No problem Sabrina 🙂 .
Colleen says
I used to enjoy a London Fog sometimes from the coffee shop, but never thought to make it at home. Thanks for sharing!
Joss D says
It is quite easy actually 🙂 , thanks Colleen!
Nicoletta De Angelis Nardelli says
Thank you for this! I don't drink tea too often, but London Fog is something I love. I would stop after yoga at a wonderful cozy tea room with my friend and always order it! Never made it myself, now I know how! 🙂
Joss D says
That sounds lovely 🙂 It's a breeze to make, so it's nice to have at home sometimes! Thanks Nicoletta.