Hot tea is a perfect match for steamed milk in the very popular London Fog drink. I’ve enjoyed my tea with a splash of milk for as long as I can remember and this frothy spin takes a simple cup of tea to the next level.
My sister taught me how to make a London Fog drink while I was visiting her over the holidays several years ago. I was surprised by how easy it was and right away I knew I’d be making many more London Fogs in the future.
I was right. I came home and made this tea latte almost every night for two weeks straight. That means I can safely say that the London Fog is my favorite tea drink these days and it’s high time I share my recipe with you all.
London Fog Drink
A London Fog Latte is one of the easiest drinks you will ever make and I promise it is so much more than the sum of the ingredients.
Tea and hot milk are the essential components of a London Fog. Sweeteners or flavored syrups are a popular addition that I enjoy in my tea latte as well.
What makes this tea drink a step above the average cuppa is the step of frothing the milk before adding it to the tea.
I promise it takes hardly any effort or extra time at all. You can froth the milk in a saucepan while your tea bag steeps in boiling water so all the ingredients are ready to go into your mug at the same time.
London Fog Recipe
A traditional London Fog drink is made with Earl Grey Tea and a splash of vanilla syrup. The addition of vanilla takes the very fragrant edge off the Earl Grey.
Despite the fact that I’ve sworn hatred for the “perfume-y” Earl Grey for as long as I can remember, I really liked the traditional London Fog drinks I’ve tried. It simply works beautifully for this combination of flavors.
I typically use Sweet and Spicy Good Earth Tea for this drink when I make it at home; it is the first tea I have ever enjoyed without adding sweeteners to it. I love the flavor of this tea mixed with warm frothy milk.
My favorites aside, you can make a London Fog with any flavor or type of black tea that you already love. A strong robust black tea or blend of black teas holds up best to the hot milk. Lately, I’ve been using this Bigelow Caramel Tea and enjoying that with and without sweeteners.
I buy decaffeinated and caffeinated teas both, so that I can enjoy these in the morning as well as at night and not wind up wide awake at midnight. A cozy cup of tea and a good book in the evenings are just what I need to wind down from my day.
If the caffeine doesn’t bother you, or if you are a morning tea drinker, go for the caffeinated versions.
Sugared Shortbread Cookies and Maple Nut Scone Cookies pair nicely with a London Fog but I also enjoy a cup of this hot tea beverage all on its own.
However you make your London Fog, I hope you love this drink every bit as much as I do!
If you like this tea drink, you might also enjoy one my recipes for Homemade Chai Tea and Pumpkin Spice Latte. Both are just as delicious, if not more so, than the specialty drinks from the coffee shop.
Pumpkin spice lovers should also give Foodie with Family’s popular Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte recipe a try. It’s a pumpkin spice latte for tea drinkers that includes real pumpkin for a sweet fall treat.
Spanish Cafe con Leche and this Iced Caramel Mocha Latte are more drink recipes you might like.
If you don’t already own a milk frother, I can’t recommend one highly enough! I use mine for lattes, frothing milk for cocoa, and for making my beloved Cafe con Leche almost every day.
It’s completely worth the investment to have a perfect layer of frothy milk on top of my tea and coffee. You won’t regret adding one to your kitchen.
This is the milk frother that I’ve been using for almost three years and I absolutely love it. (I’ve also used $3 frothers from both Ikea and World Market and they work great, though admittedly they aren’t nearly as fast or sturdy.)
London Fog Drink
- Place the teabag in a mug with boiling water and allow it to steep for 5 minutes.
- Remove the teabag, add a shot of vanilla syrup and/or sweeten the tea, as desired.
- While the tea is steeping, heat the milk in a pan or in the microwave until steaming.
- Use a milk frother for about 15 seconds, until the milk doubles in size and is super foamy.
- Pour the milk and froth over the hot tea and stir gently.
How To Make A London Fog
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup or 6 ounces hot tea
- 1/4 cup or 2 ounces hot milk
- Optional: sweetener of your choice or shot of Vanilla Coffee Syrup
Instructions
- Place the teabag in a mug with boiling water and allow it to steep for 5 minutes. Remove the teabag, add a shot of vanilla syrup and/or sweeten the tea, as desired. While the tea is steeping, heat the milk in a pan or in the microwave until steaming. Use a milk frother for about 15 seconds, until the milk doubles in size and is super foamy. Pour the milk and froth over the hot tea and stir gently. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
{originally published 1/6/15 – recipe notes and photos updated 3/11/20}
Magnolia Verandah says
Emm…. as an English avid tea drinker (loving Earl Grey) with milk but no sugar or sweeteners I feel strangely drawn to this frothy concoction – must give it a try especially with the vanilla syrup! Chai has become very fashionable here too.
Amanda @ I Am Baker says
I love everything about this!
Pam Greer says
Oh my gosh. I have to try this. And now, I simply must get a milk frother! I don't know how I've managed to go this long without one!
Lynne says
I'm English, I love tea, and I really can't get my head round this one! I don't even like sugar in my ordinary tea, so to have hot milk and vanilla syrup …well let's say I am feeling distinctly nauseous! I don't know how well it would go down in London either – where on earth did this originate? Now see, I can certainly understand doing this with coffee – just PLEEEEEEEEASE leave us our tea alone!!!
Mary says
This made me grin, Lynne. Luckily, we can all drink our teas and coffees however we like. The London Fog is a popular drink right now and you can find many versions of it online, even a full list on wikipedia!
Shayna Stewart says
Hi Lynne! Just so you know, people in India, the Middle East, and Asian countries have been drinking tea for far longer than English people, and adding milk (traditionally water buffalo milk) to Indian Masala Chai has been done for a long time 🙂 In fact, you probably import all of your tea from those areas without knowing it. Let’s not pretend tea is the property of anyone, or that anyone has the right to tell someone how to take their tea. Ok? 🙂
milk frother says
Hello!!This blog has great information that you share on this website…Thanks for sharing this with us
Jacqueline Hilt says
Try adding Lavender tea to the mix. Divine!!!
Sherri says
Of course with touch of rum
Kat Nordstrom says
Lol, my dad would like that one.
Timothy Pettus says
This looks yummy recipe. I never try this London Fog before. But I will try this for sure. Thanks for the sharing such a yummy recipe with all of us.
Kat Nordstrom says
I don’t have a milk frother being only 14 years o ld, but I love London fog. I’ve made it before, just couldn’t remember how. So I looked up this recipe. I’m gonna have to make some vanilla syrup and try it with that. For now I just use the extract.
John Galt says
“The first tea I have enjoyed without sweeteners”
You are a philistine. You have no right to write articles for a cooking website.
Vile wretch, begone from my sight.
Mary Younkin says
Oh, my dear John Galt. I laughed so hard. Thanks for that. Isn’t the internet a beautiful thing? The way I can disappear from your sight with the click of a button? A Philistine AND a vile wretch for enjoying sweetened hot tea. I kind of love that.
J Ro says
😂😂😂😂 I also laughed. Your reply- so great! 😁
Mary Younkin says
Sometimes, you just can’t help laughing at the ridiculousness of some comments. Have a fabulous weekend!
Mysterious Person says
Oh John Galt, your life must be full of hatred and jealousy. Do everyone a favour here because it’s for your own good… Do consult a psychiatrist please.
Connie Dunfield says
This is a great Christmas Basket idea. A pretty mug, nice tea w/a tea Frother (which I just hit your’s in “red” & it goes right into Amazon…nice), and, of course, Vanilla syrup. Thanks!
We’ve all been to England, and making a London Fog will be a nice memory!
Mary Younkin says
awe, I love this! What a great gift idea, Connie.
Casey Allen says
Super Awesooome!!!!!
Mary Younkin says
I’m glad you like it, Casey!
Norman carino says
Thank you so much and more power to you
Mary Younkin says
I’m glad you’re enjoying the London Fog, Norman!
Valerie says
Just made this using your vanilla syrup recipe. It’s very good, but I should have let the syrup boil down more.
Mary Younkin says
I’m glad you like it, Valerie!
Alma says
I just tried this recipe. Delicious! I used Teavana’s Earl Grey Creme tea and sugar free vanilla syrup. Tastes just like famous coffee shop tea which is where I discovered it.
Mary Younkin says
I’m so happy to hear that you like the London Fog, Alma!