Cozy up with this easy to make Earl Grey Tea Latte that’ll warm your bones from the inside out! It’s as good as a London Fog from Starbucks but without the $8 price tag and so simple to make yourself at home.
I used to hate tea. I mean, now that I think of it, I’m not really a fan of flavoured water of any kind for that matter. And really, that’s all tea is if you want to get technical. But, in my old age, it’s seemingly growing on me (as we speak!) and these days, a cuppa tea is just as good of a contender for my night cap as a glass of wine. Who me?! I know. Who am I?
But really, there’s just something about the cozyness you feel as you grip the handle of the hot steaming mug that you just don’t get from the stem of a wine glass. And how that warmth gets carried down through your throat as you sip the tea little by little thinking of the day’s past. And instead of getting rowdy and more talkative, you embrace the peace, quiet and warmth the tea brings and wind down for the night. Not wind up debating if you should just finish the bottle of wine, instead of just your glass. You feel me?
I used to work with this girl many moons ago – a good friend of mine at the time – who’s reaction when she found out that I had never even heard of, let alone had, a London Fog from Starbucks before was as if I had just announced that I was pregnant with baby elephants. I mean, she just could not believe it. She swore up and down that London Fogs were the best thing to ever happen to the tea world and that they’re addicting, creamy and everything a person who lives in Canada needs to combat the cold Winter months.
I remember explaining to her how much I hate tea and firmly brushing off the notion that I would just magically like this so called London Fog made with an Earl Grey tea bag. I think I even had a sip of her London Fog from Starbucks at the time and confirmed that I hated tea and no London Fog was going to change that. Or maybe, just maybe, I was too stubborn to admit that it did.
I’m all about the London Fogs these days, although admittedly not from Starbucks. Why would I be when they’re just as easy and quick to make yourself at home. Now if only I can dig up that girl’s number just so I can invite her over for a homemade London Fog so good, she’d probably think it came from Starbucks.
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE A LONDON FOG FROM STARBUCKS AT HOME
Move over, Starbucks. There’s a new barista in town! You don’t need any fancy skills or ingredients to whip up this homemade London Fog (aka Earl Grey Tea Latte). So, let’s get into them in a little bit more detail down below:
- Earl Grey Tea: One of the more popular teas on the market, Earl Grey Tea is widely known and available. It’s typically a black tea base with citrusy and floral notes thanks to being flavoured with oil from the rind of a bergamot orange.
- Milk: Adds flavour, creaminess and texture to this homemade London Fog recipe. Gives you that nice foamy/frothy layer you typically see in Starbucks lattes. While Starbucks uses 2% milk for their lattes, I used almond milk instead. Any kind of milk, plant based or regular, will do the job just fine. You can even use cream, if you prefer. However, keep in mind that some milks might froth better than others.
- Water: Boiled and used to steep the tea.
- Sweetener: Adds a bit of sweetness to this London Fog recipe, of course! Use more or less depending on how sweet you want your latte to be. Any kind of sweetener you want to use will work in this recipe. I used a Keto friendly sugar free sweetener (monk fruit). But regular sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey or simple syrup all make great alternatives.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds a bit of umph to this London Fog from Starbucks Copycat recipe and ties all of the flavours together. A little vanilla goes a long way here!
- Lavender: Optional but it’s what really makes this a London Fog from Starbucks rather than just a London Fog. It also makes the drink look pretty and worthy of an $8 starbucks price tag.
HOW TO MAKE A LONDON FOG FROM STARBUCKS (KEY TIPS)
You can find full instructions for how to make this Starbucks Copycat London Fog in the recipe card down below, but here are a few quick tips to keep in mind:
- Steep the tea for maximum flavour and best results. This basically just means allowing the tea bags to soak in the boiling hot water for 3-5 minutes to extract all the flavour. The longer you steep tea, the stronger tasting it will be. However, avoid steeping the tea for longer than 5 minutes or it’ll taste bitter. For a stronger Earl Grey Tea flavour, try using 2 tea bags instead of 1.
- Don’t boil the milk or it’ll scorch and taste burnt. You want it to be hot but not boiling. You can either do this in the microwave (it’ll only take one minute). Or on the stove top, keeping a close eye and whisking frequently to ensure it doesn’t burn.
- Use a milk frother for best results. PSA: My milk frother is like the best $5 I’ve ever spent. Since they’re so inexpensive, I say it’s definitely worth it to get one. It’s the only way you’re going to get the milk niiiiice and foamy like they do at Starbucks or fancy cafes. Makes for a REAL latte. Buuuuut, if you don’t have one, I’m sure the London Fog will taste just as good without the foam. Or, you can try vigorously shaking up the hot milk in a jar to get the same foamy effect you’d get with the frother. EXTRA TIP: Use a spoon to hold back the froth as you pour the hot milk into the tea. Then spoon the leftover foam directly on top of the latte.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Generally speaking, a London Fog is a latte made by steeping an earl grey tea bag in some water then adding some sweetness, vanilla and steamed frothy milk. The way they’re made from place to place might slightly differ but the overall idea is the same. A london fog from starbucks has some lavender notes throughout which is what makes it different from other london fogs. They also use vanilla syrup instead of a combination of sweetener and vanilla extract, however, the taste is generally the same.
Essentially a London Fog is a type of tea latte. Of course, there are lattes made with coffee instead of tea which differ from both a tea latte and a London Fog. When we talk about a London Fog, we are specifically referring to a latte made with earl grey tea. However, all lattes (and thus, a London Fog) all have at least one thing in common: that delicious steamed frothy, foamy milk on top! Therefore, the difference lies in the base (the kind of coffee or tea) used to make it.
Typically, London Fogs are served hot like a latte or cup of tea. However, the beauty of London Fogs is that they’re good either way! To make this Starbucks London Fog iced instead of hot, simply follow the instructions in the recipe card down below up until step number 1. Put the steeped tea in the fridge to chill for 10 minutes then pour it over a glass with ice. Froth the milk cold instead of hot then pour it in and spoon the foam over top.
LONDON FOG FROM STARBUCKS COPYCAT
Cozy up with this easy to make Earl Grey Tea Latte that'll warm your bones from the inside out! It's as good as a London Fog from Starbucks but without the $8 price tag and so simple to make yourself at home.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Water
- 1/2 cup Milk of Choice
- 1 Earl Grey Tea Bag*
- 1 tsp Sweetener or Sugar
- 1/4 tsp Vanilla Extract
- Dried Lavender, for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil in a pot or a kettle then pour it into a mug with the tea bag. Steep (soak) for 3-5 minutes depending on how strong you want the tea flavour to be. Remove the tea bag and stir in the sweetener.
- Meanwhile, add the vanilla to the milk and heat by putting it in the microwave for one minute. You can also do this in a small pot on the stove but keep a close eye on it and whisk frequently to ensure it doesn't burn. You want it to be hot but not boiling. Use a milk frother to get it niiiice and foamy then pour it into the tea, using a spoon to hold back the foam.
- Spoon the foam on top of the latte, taste and adjust for sweetness. Garnish with lavender, if using, and serve immediately.
Notes
For a stronger Earl Grey Tea flavour, try using 2 tea bags instead of 1.
To make this Starbucks London Fog iced instead of hot, simply chill the steeped tea in the fridge for at least 10 minutes. Pour it over a glass with ice. Froth the milk cold instead of hot then pour it in and spoon the foam over top.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 89Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 70mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 0gSugar: 11gProtein: 4g
Nutrition is only an estimate and calculated using Nutritionix.
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CREAMY PEANUT BUTTER AND CHOCOLATE SMOOTHIE
COZY WHITE HOT CHOCOLATE FROM SCRATCH
I have had this a couple times from Starbucks, and it is so good! I will definitely have to try this recipe. Great step by step instructions!
Thanks so much Marysa! I really hope you enjoy it 🙂