Trying to bring out your inner barista? Look no further! This London Fog recipe has come to your rescue. Made with no syrup, you can enjoy this warm, foamy, aromatic tea latte at any sweetness level you prefer.
A few months ago my husband equipped our kitchen with an espresso maker featuring a milk steamer. Since then, we haven’t been able to get enough of our lattes in the morning! Especially this London fog. I figured since I can’t get enough of this recipe, I may as well share it with you all.
It’s truly comfort in a mug! Strong brewed tea sweetened exactly how you like it, and topped with light, foamy, milk and spiked with warm vanilla. You can even throw a shot of Irish cream in there. I won’t judge! Our London fog obsession has now gone to the point where we buy Earl Grey tea by the kilogram. It’s just that good.
What is a London fog?
This traditional tea latte is made from Earl grey, vanilla syrup, and foamy steamed milk. I know some of you may recoil at the idea of using syrup to make your tea, so I have a method of making a London fog for anyone’s sugar preference.
Ingredients
Keep scrolling down to the recipe card for a list of FULL ingredient amounts and instructions or click the “Jump to Recipe” button at the top of the page!
- Earl grey tea – Use bagged or loose-leaf tea.
- Water
- Milk – The more fat content in your milk, the more it will foam up. You can use skim milk, but it will not foam. Non-dairy alternatives like soy milk, almond milk, and coconut milk will work but will vary in foaminess depending on the brand.
- Sugar – Or anything you use to sweeten your tea.
- Vanilla – Extract, paste, or fresh vanilla bean.
Does a London fog have caffeine?
You may be trying to find a way to replace your morning espresso latte without sacrificing that energy boost, or you may be on the other hand looking for a way to wind down at the end of the day without staying up all night.
London fogs are made of Earl Grey, which is a flavored variety of black tea. Black tea has about 25% of the caffeine of your usual cup of coffee. If you’re a heavy coffee drinker, it’ll take a bit of adjustment to get used to the lower levels of caffeine, but it’s still a wonderful way to start the day.
For those looking for a caffeine boost, you can make a “dirty London fog” by mixing in a shot of espresso. If you’re looking for no caffeine, find yourself a caffeine free variety of Earl Grey tea.
How to make a London fog
- Steep: Using whichever steeping method you prefer, steep the tea in the hot water no longer than 5 minutes. Pour the steeped tea into a large mug.
- Foam: Meanwhile, steam the milk. Option 1: Add the milk to a latte milk frother cup with the sugar and vanilla. Steam the milk until hot and frothy.
- Foam option 2: Add the milk, sugar, and vanilla to a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk vigorously until steaming, and foamed. Don’t boil the milk.
- Finish: Pour into the milk into the mug with the tea. Pour a bit or milk, swirl, pour some more, and repeat as needed to grab all the foam.
Equipment
I used a tea steeper to make my tea, but feel free to use whichever steeping method you prefer.
I used a milk frother to make my London fogs. With both an option for cold froth and hot froth, it’s a fantastic option for making iced lattes as well. You can also use a classic milk steamer attached to an espresso maker.
If you don’t have any special equipment for frothing your milk, you can always just warm the milk up in the microwave or in a saucepan. It’ll still taste delicious without the foam! You can also whisk the milk vigorously as it heats up to incorporate some air.
How to serve London fog
Enjoy your tea latte in the morning with some of these coffee shop favorites:
- Starbucks Lemon Loaf Copycat
- Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars
- Lemon Poppyseed Muffins
- Easy Banana Bread
- Bakery Style Blueberry Muffins
- Nanaimo Bars
- Lemon Bars
- Strawberry Chocolate Scones
Did you love this recipe? Try these:
- Homemade Nutella Frappuccino
- Irish Coffee
- Homemade Eggnog
- Mango Strawberry Smoothie
- Strawberry Banana Smoothie
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London Fog
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tablespoon Earl Grey tea loose leaf or bagged
- ½ cup water boiled
- ½ cup milk preferably not skim*
- 1 teaspoon sugar use more, less, or none according to your preference.
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Using whichever steeping method you prefer, steep the tea in the hot water no longer than 5 minutes. Pour the steeped tea into a large mug.
- Meanwhile, steam the milk. Option 1: Add the milk to a latte milk frother cup with the sugar and vanilla. Steam the milk until hot and frothy.
- Option 2: Add the milk, sugar, and vanilla to a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk vigorously until steaming, and foamed. Don't boil the milk.
- Pour into the milk into the mug with the tea. Pour a bit or milk, swirl, pour some more, and repeat as needed to grab all the foam.
Recipe Notes
- *The more fat content in your milk, the more it will foam up. You can use skim milk, but it will not foam. Non-dairy alternatives like soy milk, almond milk, and coconut milk will work but will vary in foaminess depending on the brand.
fyi if you use a french press type plunger set up skim milk will froth.