London Fog Latte: the Best Rainy-Day Drink

This post was last updated March 2021. I’ve always been a tea drinker. Sweet tea runs in my blood, but I’ll never say no to a cup of hot tea, especially on a chilly or rainy day. I keep a stash of tea in my desk at work and drink at least a cup a day. The green tea keeps me going when the 3:00 slump hits. My latest obsession, though, is the London Fog latte.

A London Fog is a latte made with Earl Grey tea. The little coffee bar below my office makes a really good one, and every time one of my coworkers gets one, it smells amazing. I started ordering them at some of my favorite local coffee shops and my obsession has only grown.

There’s something about a London Fog that’s extra fitting for a rainy day. Maybe it’s the name. But drinking tea on a gray, rainy day seems like a better mood-lifter than coffee or hot chocolate. It takes me right back to my time in rainy London. I love curling up with a cup of tea on a rainy day at home, or sipping on one at work. They’re especially tasty when sipped with a little cookie, like madeleines, or a baked donut.

The secret to making a perfect London Fog latte Click To Tweet

While London fogs aren’t the most expensive drink I’ve ever gotten, they add up really quick. So of course, I started thinking about how to make my own at home. I teased this venture in a recent Weekly Sip post and said I’d share my recipe once I felt like I’d nailed it. Well, I feel pretty good about my recipe, so I’m sharing it!

A good London Fog has hints of vanilla and lavender flavors. I’d bought some dried lavender and steeped some of that in the tea, and I added vanilla extract to get the vanilla flavor. It didn’t taste bad, but it wasn’t quite what I was trying to achieve. Then I overheard a tip from a local barista that changed my at-home London Fog game, and I knew I had it right.

That tip? Vanilla simple syrup. How hadn’t I thought of that before? Probably because vanilla beans aren’t cheap, either. I do share some tips on shopping for vanilla beans in my post about homemade vanilla extract. The other thing that takes my at-home London Fog lattes to the next level is my hand-held milk frother. It’s such a small thing, but foamy milk can really make it taste and feel like it’s from a cafe.

If you can find Lavender Earl Grey tea, that makes a perfect London fog latte. Wildflower Tea Shop here in Chattanooga has a lovely Lavender Earl Grey blend. Fresh and/or dried lavender is a nice alternative if you can’t find a lavender tea blend. It adds such a nice floral note to so many things and just takes them up another level. You can steep your base Earl Grey tea with a few lavender buds to infuse the flavor.

Make a London Fog latte at home with this easy recipe Click To Tweet

As far as milk goes, you can pretty much use whatever kind of milk you like. I use either 2% regular milk, or unsweetened vanilla almond milk. If you use a vanilla flavored milk, you may not need to add that much sweetener to your latte. Sweetness is up to you!

Lastly, this drink is delicious hot or iced. To make it iced, brew your base tea a little stronger than normal, and pour it over ice once it’s cooled down a bit. Then add your syrup and milk, stir, and enjoy.

Here’s how to make a London Fog Latte at home.

First, make the vanilla syrup. Add the water and sugar to a small saucepan. Split the vanilla bean long ways, but don’t slice it completely or scrape out the caviar. Add the bean to the saucepan and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Cut the heat and let cool. Remove vanilla bean when cool.

Next, brew your tea. Use loose leaf or a tea bag to make some strong Earl Grey tea. Add a few lavender buds (if you’re not using lavender Earl Grey tea to begin with) for additional flavor, if desired. Steep for 4-5 minutes.

Assemble your London Fog latte. Add vanilla syrup to your tea. Heat your milk until it’s warm, but not bubbling. Froth if desired. Carefully pour milk into your tea. Stir lightly to mix.

Drink your latte. It’s best when warm!

Next time you’re at home on a rainy day, give a London Fog latte a try. The weather outside may be gray and dreary, but this latte is anything but, and I think you’ll be hooked.

If you enjoyed this post and recipe, you might also like:

• Browned Butter Chai Madeleines
• Chocolate Chip Scones
• Pumpkin Spice Latte
• Orange Spice Tea Latte
• Orange Almond Madeleines

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