The London Fog is one of the drinks I recommend at the St. Paul Farmers’ Market when people ask how best to enjoy Earl Grey tea. It’s just Earl Grey tea steeped strong, topped with steamed (or frothed) milk and a touch of vanilla. The combination changes a regular black tea into something that feels like a treat.
Quick Summary: A London Fog is Earl Grey tea with steamed milk and vanilla, named for the city’s famous mist. This cozy drink is easy to make at home and showcases the bergamot flavor of Earl Grey. Includes variations and tips for the best results. Prep: 5 min | Steep: 3-5 min | Serves: 1
The name brings to mind the gray mist that settles over London, and the drink itself has that same soft, comforting quality. It’s become a coffeehouse staple, but it’s easy to make at home, and you can control the sweetness and milk type to your preference.
Jump to: What is London Fog? | Key Ingredients | How to Make | FAQ
What Is a London Fog?
A London Fog is a tea latte made with Earl Grey tea, steamed milk, and vanilla syrup. It’s sometimes called an Earl Grey latte or Earl Grey tea mist.
The drink originated in Vancouver, Canada, in the late 1990s, despite its British-sounding name. A customer at a coffee shop named Mary Loria reportedly ordered the combination regularly, and it spread from there. Starbucks popularized it further, and now it’s on menus worldwide.
The appeal is the interplay between the floral, citrusy bergamot in Earl Grey and the creamy sweetness of vanilla milk. It’s comforting without being heavy, caffeinated without being intense.
The Key Ingredient: Earl Grey Tea
Earl Grey is a black tea flavored with oil of bergamot, a citrus fruit grown mainly in southern Italy. The bergamot gives Earl Grey its distinctive floral, slightly citrusy taste that sets it apart from plain black tea.
For a London Fog, use a quality Earl Grey with real bergamot oil, not artificial flavoring. The bergamot flavor should be pronounced since it has to stand up to the milk and vanilla.
A good loose leaf Earl Grey will give you a richer flavor than most tea bags, but a quality bagged Earl Grey (like Twinings or Harney & Sons) works fine.
At HeathGlen Farm, I blend some pink peppercorns and a little cardamom into Earl Grey tea to add a little warmth.
Ingredients for a London Fog
- Earl Grey tea: 1-2 teaspoons loose leaf or 1-2 tea bags
- Hot water: About 1/2 cup (enough to steep the tea strong)
- Milk: About 1/2 cup, any type (whole milk for richness, oat milk for a popular dairy-free option)
- Vanilla: 1/2 to 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, or 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup
- Sweetener (optional): Honey, sugar, or simple syrup to taste
The ratio is roughly half strong tea, half steamed milk, with vanilla and sweetener to your preference.
How to Make a London Fog at Home
Step 1: Steep the tea strong. Bring water to a boil, let it cool for 30 seconds to a minute (about 200°F is ideal for black tea). Steep 1-2 teaspoons loose Earl Grey or 1-2 tea bags in about 1/2 cup water for 3-5 minutes. You want it stronger than usual since the milk will dilute it.
Step 2: Add vanilla and sweetener. While the tea steeps, add vanilla extract or vanilla syrup to your mug. Add sweetener if desired. The traditional version is lightly sweetened, but adjust to your taste.
Step 3: Steam or froth the milk. Heat 1/2 cup milk until steaming. Froth it if you have a frother, steam wand, or French press (pump the plunger vigorously). You want it warm and slightly foamy, not boiling.
Step 4: Combine. Pour the steeped tea (remove bags or strain loose leaf) into your mug over the vanilla. Top with the steamed milk. If you frothed it, spoon the foam on top.
Step 5: Enjoy. Stir gently if you like, or let the milk settle into the tea. The first sip should be creamy with bergamot coming through.
Variations and Customizations
Lavender London Fog: Add a small pinch of culinary lavender to the tea while steeping, or use an Earl Grey that already includes lavender. The floral notes complement each other beautifully.
Iced London Fog: Steep the tea strong, let it cool, pour over ice, and add cold milk and vanilla. Shake in a jar if you want it frothy.
London Fog with honey: Substitute honey for sugar or syrup. Honey and bergamot pair wonderfully.
Oat milk London Fog: Oat milk froths well and has a natural sweetness that works perfectly with Earl Grey. It’s become the popular non-dairy choice for this drink.
Stronger tea version: Use two tea bags or 2 teaspoons loose leaf for a more intense bergamot flavor that stands up to more milk.
Tips for the Best London Fog
- Don’t over-steep. More than 5 minutes makes black tea bitter. Steep strong by using more tea, not by steeping longer.
- Use real vanilla. Vanilla extract or real vanilla syrup makes a difference. Artificial vanilla flavoring tastes flat.
- Warm your mug. Pour hot water in your mug while steeping the tea, then dump it before assembling. A warm mug keeps your London Fog hot longer.
- Adjust milk-to-tea ratio. Some prefer more tea, some prefer more milk. Start with half and half, then adjust to your taste.
- Quality Earl Grey matters. Since there are only a few ingredients, each one shows. Good tea makes a noticeably better drink.
FAQ
Yes. It’s made with black tea, so it has moderate caffeine, roughly 40-70mg per cup depending on steeping time. Less than coffee, but enough to provide a gentle lift.
Yes. Use decaffeinated Earl Grey for an evening drink without the caffeine.
They’re the same drink. “London Fog” is the more evocative name, but “Earl Grey latte” describes exactly what it is.
You can make tea lattes with other teas (chai lattes are popular), but it wouldn’t be a London Fog. The bergamot flavor of Earl Grey is essential to this particular drink.
Heat milk in a jar, secure the lid tightly, and shake vigorously for 30-60 seconds. Or use a French press: add warm milk and pump the plunger rapidly until foamy.
Check out this free guide to all things tea: growing, blending, steeping, recipes and hosting tea tastings
London Fog (Earl Grey Tea Latte)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1-2 teaspoons loose leaf Earl Grey tea or 1-2 tea bags
- ½ cup hot water just off boiling, about 200°F
- ½ cup milk any type; whole milk or oat milk recommended
- ½ to 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup
- Sweetener to taste honey, sugar, or simple syrup; optional
Instructions
- Heat water to just below boiling. Steep Earl Grey tea in about 1/2 cup water for 3-5 minutes. Steep strong since milk will dilute.1-2 teaspoons loose leaf Earl Grey tea, 1/2 cup hot water
- Add vanilla extract (or syrup) and sweetener to your mug.1/2 to 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, Sweetener to taste
- Heat milk until steaming. Froth with a milk frother, French press, or by shaking in a sealed jar.1/2 cup milk
- Remove tea bags or strain loose leaf. Pour tea into mug over the vanilla.
- Top with steamed milk, spooning foam on top if desired.
- Stir gently and enjoy.
Notes
- For a Lavender London Fog, add a pinch of culinary lavender while steeping, or use lavender Earl Grey.
- For iced, steep tea strong, cool, pour over ice with cold milk and vanilla.
- Oat milk froths beautifully and complements the bergamot flavor.
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