London Fog Drink (Earl Grey Tea Latte)

4.73 from 103 votes

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Made with Earl Grey tea and warm milk, a London Fog drink is a delicious tea latte with hints of vanilla and lavender. Make this London Fog drink at home with this simple 8-minute recipe.

London Fog drink with dried lavender garnish in a grey mug.

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London Fog Drink (Earl Grey Tea Latte)

A London fog drink, or an Earl Grey tea latte, is made with Earl Grey tea and frothed milk. It’s a popular drink in the Northwest and thought to have originated in Vancouver, Canada.

There are four parts to a London fog drink: Earl Grey (black tea flavored with bergamot, a citrus fruit from Italy), milk, vanilla extract, and sugar.

At Starbucks, the London Fog drink uses Earl Grey tea with a hint of lavender. This recipe recreates the drink by using dried lavender.

RELATED: Starbucks London Fog Tea Latte Copycat

Recipe Highlights

  • Made with just 6 ingredients, this hot drink is soothing and delicious.
  • This London Fog drink contains caffeine from the black tea, making it a tasty alternative to espresso-based lattes.
  • Velvety, cafe-quality milk froth is made at home using my trick of using a French press.

RELATED: 17 Tasty Recipes with Earl Grey Tea

Ingredient Notes

London Fog drink ingredients.
  • Earl Grey tea: Earl Grey is the star of this drink and it can’t be called a London Fog without it. Use loose tea or tea sachets instead of tea bags for a better quality cup of tea.
  • Water: For the best flavor, use filtered water to make the tea.
  • Brown sugar: White sugar also works, but brown sugar adds a richer sweetness due to the molasses.
  • Vanilla extract: A flavor enhancer that makes tea lattes extra delicious.
  • Dried lavender buds: The standard London Fog drink recipe is made without lavender so feel free to take this out.
  • Milk: Use any kind of milk you prefer.

For full ingredients and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

My Earl Grey Tea Pick

Photo Credit: Harney.com

My go-to Earl Grey tea. This blend has a some white tea, which makes it a bit more mellow than traditional Earl Grey.
BUY ON HARNEY.COM

Step-by-Step Instructions

Pouring hot water into a cup with tea

Step 1: Combine tea, lavender buds, and hot water in a teapot. Cover and steep.

Use an electric kettle with temperature setting to quickly and easily boil filtered water for tea or boil water on the stovetop. While tea is steeping, make the frothed milk.

Milk in a French press.

Step 2: Heat milk and pour into a French press. Pump French press plunger until milk doubles in volume. If you don’t have a milk frother, a French press makes excellent frothy milk perfect for tea lattes.

Pouring tea into a mug.

Step 3: Strain tea leaves and pour tea into a cup. Stir in sugar and vanilla extract.

Pouring milk into a mug with tea.

Step 4: Pour frothed milk from the French press into the cup.

Expert Tips

  • To froth milk like a pro at home, another option is to use an electric milk frother which heats milk and froths at the same time.
  • If you don’t have or love lavender, feel free to make it without. It’s still delicious!
  • Be careful not to boil the milk since it can easily burn. Use low heat and let the milk come to a simmer then turn off the heat.
  • To microwave the milk, heat 30 seconds at a time in a microwave-safe cup.

RELATED: Starbucks Iced London Fog Tea Latte Copycat

Questions You May Have

What’s in a Starbucks London Fog?

A Starbucks London Fog is made of black tea, bergamot essence (black tea and bergamot make up the Earl Grey flavor), lavender flowers, vanilla syrup, and steamed milk.

What’s in this London Fog drink?

This drink is made of Earl Grey tea, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and dried lavender buds. What makes my London Fog so great is the perfect froth I create using a French press.

Is there caffeine in this drink?

Yes, since there’s caffeine in Earl Grey since it’s made with black tea.

What is Victoria Fog?

Victoria Fog is a variation on London Fog where the Earl Grey tea is taken out and replaced with lavender tea. A Cape Town Fog is where the Earl Grey is substituted with rooibos. Tokyo Fog is a tea latte made with matcha instead of Earl Grey and a Dublin Fog is made with Irish breakfast tea instead of Earl Grey.

Pouring frothed milk into a cup with Earl Grey tea.

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4.73 from 103 votes

Easy London Fog Drink (Earl Grey Tea Latte)

By: Jee Choe
Make London Fog at home with this easy and tasty recipe. 
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 8 minutes
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients 

  • ¾ cup water
  • 2 teaspoons Earl Grey tea, (or 1 tea sachet or 1 tea bag)
  • ¼ teaspoon dried lavender, + extra for garnish
  • 2 teaspoons brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup milk, (any kind)

Instructions 

  • Boil water.
    Boil water on the stovetop or use an electric kettle with a temperature setting (water set to 208°F). Use filtered water for a better tasting tea.
  • Combine tea, lavender buds, and hot water in a teapot. Cover teapot and steep for 5 minutes.
    While tea is steeping, make the frothed milk.
  • Heat milk and pour into a French press. Pump French press plunger until milk doubles in volume.
    Heat milk on the stovetop by simmering on low then turning off the heat. Keep careful watch to make sure the milk doesn't come to a boil. Stir occasionally.
    Fill the French press halfway with milk. You want to leave room since the milk will double in volume.
  • Strain tea leaves and pour tea into a cup. Stir in sugar and vanilla extract.
  • Pour frothed milk from the French press into the cup.
    Garnish with dried lavender buds.

Notes

  • You can take out the dried lavender if you wish since the drink is still delicious without it.
  • To froth milk like a pro at home, another option is to use an electric milk frother which heats milk and froths at the same time.
  • Be careful not to boil the milk since it can easily burn. Use low heat and let the milk come to a simmer then turn off the heat.
  • To microwave the milk, heat 30 seconds at a time in a microwave-safe cup.
  • You can use any milk you prefer. But know that not all milk will froth as well as whole or 2% milk.
  • Make sure to hold down the lid of the French press so that you don’t make a mess when pumping.
  • Always add vanilla extract last since you don’t want it to cook down and evaporate. The flavor will be weaker if it’s hot for too long.
  • You can use white sugar if you don’t have any brown sugar, but the brown sugar adds a richer sweetness due to the molasses.
  • Loose tea, tea sachets, or tea bags can be used to make this drink. I recommend using loose tea or tea sachets since the quality is a lot better. Tea bags contain the lowest quality tea.
  • Victoria Fog is a variation on London Fog where the Earl Grey tea is taken out and replaced with lavender tea. A Cape Town Fog is where the Earl Grey is substituted with rooibos. Tokyo Fog is a tea latte made with matcha instead of Earl Grey and a Dublin Fog is made with Irish breakfast tea instead of Earl Grey.

Nutrition

Calories: 154Carbohydrates: 17gProtein: 6gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 90mgPotassium: 242mgSugar: 18gVitamin A: 296IUCalcium: 207mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @ohhowcivilized or tag #ohhowcivilized!

About Jee Choe

Welcome! I'm a certified Tea Sommelier and a self-proclaimed bubble tea and iced tea master. I'm all about making tea EASY and DELICIOUS.

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35 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I make this but with decaf. Earl Grey and had been using salted caramel syrup.

    I tried your suggestions and went with the vanilla & brown sugar. Just those small changes made all the difference…Especially the vanilla!

    Great recipe. Thanks!!