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This easy copycat of Starbucks London Fog Drink recipe brings the classic drink to your kitchen. Made with Earl Grey tea and steamed milk, the flavors of vanilla and bergamot in this drink are as cozy as can be!
For an extra treat, pair it with my buttery pignoli cookies—they’re the perfect sweet bite to enjoy alongside this warm, comforting tea latte.
I love making this classic London Fog tea when I want to treat myself to some “me” time. All I need is a good book, a cozy nook, white chocolate chip cookies, and a steaming mug of this drink. The frothy steamed milk takes an ordinary cup of Earl Grey and makes it extra special, and a tiny bit of pure vanilla extract elevates the drink to pro-barista perfection! If you’ve never had a London Fog, you’re in for a treat – it’s basically an Earl Grey tea latte with some sweet, frothy milk and a dash of vanilla.
What You’ll Need
For your Starbucks London fog drink recipe, you’ll combine a few basic ingredients to make this warm sipper. Earl Grey tea, vanilla, and a hint of brown sugar sweetness make this comforting drink perfect for any time of day.
- Water: Pure, filtered water is best.
- Tea: You’ll need one Earl Grey tea bag or the equivalent amount of loose tea leaves.
- Milk: I use 2% milk, but any other will work, including oat or nut milk.
- Light Brown Sugar: This adds a pleasant caramel note to the drink.
- Vanilla: For the best flavor, use pure vanilla extract.
- Dried lavender flowers or dried tea leaves: For garnish. This is optional, but it does look pretty.
How To Make A London Fog Drink
Why drive to Starbucks when you can easily make a delicious tea latte at home—no line or wait required!
- Make the Tea. Drop the tea bag into hot water, cover, and let stand for 5 to 8 minutes.
- Sweeten and Heat the Milk. While the tea is steeping, place milk in a heat-resistant mug and stir in the brown sugar and vanilla. Heat up the milk in the microwave for about 1 minute or until hot but not boiling. You can also heat up the milk in a saucepan set over medium-high heat.
- Froth the Milk. To froth the milk, you will need a milk frother or a French press. Using a frother, froth the milk for two minutes or until foamy. To use a French press, add the milk to the French press and pump the plunger until the milk is doubled and frothy.
- Assemble the London Fog. Pour the hot tea into 2 heat-resistant glass mugs. Slowly pour in the milk, holding back the froth with a long spoon; then spoon the froth on top. If you like, you can garnish with earl gray dry tea leaves. Just open up a tea bag and sprinkle some of the tea leaves on top of the London Fog. Enjoy it with a warm blueberry muffin.
How To Make an Iced London Fog Drink
If you’d like to make an iced version, please follow these steps:
- Brew the tea. Steep your Earl Grey tea with a bit of lavender in hot water for about 4 to 5 minutes to let those flavors infuse.
- Chill the milk. Since we’re making this iced, no need to froth! Just make sure your milk is nice and chilled.
- Strain the tea. Strain out the lavender and tea bag, and pour the tea into your favorite cup. Stir in some honey and vanilla until it’s perfectly sweet.
- Add the milk. Pour in your chilled milk, give it a quick stir, and you’re all set!
- Serve. If you’re feeling fancy, sprinkle a few dried lavender buds on top and sip away!
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Clean Coffee Maker: If you do use a French press to froth the milk, be sure to wash it well first to remove any lingering coffee flavor and grounds.
- Using Vegan Milk: Frothing milk alternatives may not have as thick and creamy a result as you’d like, although this oat milk froths fairly well.
- Whipped Cream or Coconut Cream: Top your London Fog with a few tablespoons of sweetened whipped cream or, for a vegan option, whipped coconut cream.
- Extra Tea: If you want the tea taste to come through more strongly, try using two teabags of Earl Grey to the same amount of water.
- Using Loose Leaf Tea: Just measure the loose-leaf tea into your kettle rather than dropping in tea bags. When it’s time to pour the tea, pour it through a fine mesh strainer, sieve, or tea strainer if you have one.
Serving Suggestions
- Cookies: I love serving a warm London fog drink with a plate of crisp, light cookies. These salted caramel thumbprint cookies are beautiful! My cranberry brie puff pastry pinwheels would also make a perfect partner! Go the traditional route and serve it with biscotti.
- Sandwiches: Bite-sized sandwiches are always great for tea. You’ll love the fresh flavors of my strawberry cheese tea sandwiches or these delicious pinwheel sandwiches.
More Starbucks Copycat Recipes
- Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Latte
- Eggnog Latte
- Matcha Latte
- Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Starbucks Acai Refresher
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London Fog Drink
Ingredients
- 1½ cups water
- 1 tea bag Earl Grey black tea
- ¾ cup milk, use 2% milk, or any other milk, including oat or nut milk
- 2 teaspoons light brown sugar, or to taste, or use a sweetener of your choice
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- dried lavender flowers, for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Place water in a tea kettle and bring to a boil. Turn the burner off.
- Remove the lid of the tea kettle and drop in the tea bag; cover and let stand 5 to 8 minutes.
- In the meantime, place milk in a heat-resistant mug and stir in the brown sugar and vanilla.
- Heat up the milk in the microwave for about 1 minute or until hot. Do not boil. Watch it very closely. You can also heat up the milk in a saucepan set over medium-high heat. I use my glass measuring cups for this part and just heat up the milk in the microwave.
- Remove milk from heat or from the microwave.
- To froth the milk you will need a milk-frother or you can use a French Press.
- Using a frother, froth the milk for two minutes or until frothy. To use a French Press, add the milk to the French Press and pump the plunger until the milk is doubled and frothy.
- Pour the hot tea in 2 heat-resistant glass mugs.
- Slowly pour in the milk, holding back the froth with a long spoon; then, spoon the froth on top.
- Optionally, garnish with dried lavender flowers or earl gray dry tea leaves.
- Serve hot.
Notes
- Earl Grey Tea: Grab the good stuff—quality is key. That classic bergamot kick is what makes this drink cozy and delicious.
- Vanilla: Starbucks uses vanilla syrup, but a splash of vanilla extract gets the job done.
- Milk: Use any milk you like, including plant-based milk.
- Sweetness: Skipping the sweetener is your call, but the brown sugar brings everything together.
- Garnish: Open up a tea bag and sprinkle some of the tea leaves over the top of the tea.
- If you do not have a milk-frother or a French press, you can skip the frothing part. Simply warm up some milk and stir it well so the sugar dissolves. It won’t froth up, but it’ll still do wonders for your drink.
- You can also add caramel syrup to the milk before heating it up.
- Try adding a bit of ground cinnamon + a sprinkle of ground nutmeg to the drink – it’s delicious!
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
I’ve been obsessed with London Fogs lattes recently and I found your recipe to curb my trips to Starbucks! It’s amazing and all the products used are really inexpensive!! Thank you!!!
Yup, this recipe is good. I heated up the milk on the stove and added lavender. I will definitely use a strainer as I pour it into the preheated cup, next time. Thank you!