Starbucks London Fog Latte Copycat Recipe: How to Make It at Home

London fog drink is a comforting Earl Grey tea latte flavored with vanilla and honey, finished with steamed, foamy milk. It’s a warming, cozy beverage that’s perfect for cool weather.

If any drink captures sweater-weather vibes, it’s the London fog tea latte. Sip one and you might imagine leaves crunching beneath your feet and a fire crackling nearby. With its fragrant Earl Grey, a touch of vanilla and honey, and a silky milk foam, it feels like a warm hug on a crisp autumn day. Make it at the first sign of cool weather and you’ll likely fall in love.

Other names for a London fog:

1. Earl Grey Latte
2. Tea Latte
3. Earl Grey Lavender Latte
4. London Fog Latte

On many café menus, including Starbucks, a London fog is essentially a stronger brew of Earl Grey sweetened with vanilla and topped with foamed milk. I once tried a version with lavender syrup instead of vanilla at a small shop and loved how the floral notes complemented the bergamot in the tea. The combination of fragrant Earl Grey and vanilla (or lavender) is especially lovely.

What’s in a London Fog?

At its core, a London fog is brewed Earl Grey tea combined with sweetened, frothed milk — essentially a vanilla latte made with tea. For a chilled take, see the iced London Fog variation.

How to Make a London Fog Drink

With just tea, honey, vanilla, and your preferred milk, you can prepare this drink quickly. The recipe below yields two Earl Grey tea lattes but can be scaled up or down.

What is in a London Fog?

• Earl Grey Tea. Loose-leaf Earl Grey is ideal because the leaves have room to unfurl and release flavor. Use 2 teaspoons loose tea or two tea bags. If you can find double-Bergamot Earl Grey, even better.
• Milk. Any milk will work, though cow’s milk and oat milk tend to froth best and create a velvety texture.
• Vanilla Extract. A splash of real vanilla extract brings the signature sweetness and aroma.
• Honey. Honey dissolves easily in warm liquids, making it a convenient sweetener. Granulated sugar also works if dissolved fully.

How to make a London Fog

1. Gather ingredients: tea, water for steeping, milk, vanilla, and honey.
   
2. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a kettle or microwave. Add two tea bags or 2 teaspoons loose-leaf Earl Grey and steep for 5 minutes. Use freshly boiled water for black tea and time the steep carefully to avoid bitterness.
3. Remove the tea bags or strain the leaves, then divide the brewed tea between two mugs.
   
4. Warm the milk and combine it with honey and vanilla. Froth the mixture in a milk frother until velvety and foamy. If you don’t have a frother, whisk the warmed milk vigorously on the stove or blend briefly (leave the blender lid slightly ajar to release steam).
5. Pour the frothed milk over the brewed tea, dividing evenly between mugs, and serve immediately.

London Fog Tea Latte Variations

• Use any milk you prefer — cow’s milk, oat, almond, coconut, etc. Choose one with enough fat to froth well; if almond milk seems thin, adding a teaspoon of melted coconut oil before heating can help.
• Swap the tea base to create different tea lattes. Honey and vanilla pair well with black tea, jasmine green, or rooibos. Follow the same method for brewing and frothing.
• The recipe yields two lattes; adjust the amounts to make more or fewer servings.
• For an iced London Fog, chill the brewed tea completely (it can be made ahead). Combine chilled tea with milk and vanilla, sweeten with simple syrup or dissolved honey, and serve over ice.
• To enhance floral notes, add culinary-grade dried lavender when brewing the tea (about 1/2 teaspoon). Use culinary lavender that’s safe for food use rather than decorative varieties.

Recommended Tools to make a London Fog Beverage

Helpful tools include a milk frother for creating foam, a tea kettle for reliably boiling water, and a tea strainer if using loose-leaf tea. These make the process easier and improve the final texture and flavor.

How to serve a London Fog Tea Latte (Iced or Hot)

Both hot and iced versions use double-strength Earl Grey, milk, and a sweetener. The iced version requires chilling the brewed tea and using a liquid sweetener like simple syrup so it mixes evenly with cold liquid. Serve hot with freshly frothed milk, or pour chilled milk into cold tea and add ice for the iced version.

London Fog Drink FAQs

What is a dirty London Fog?

“Dirty” usually means an espresso shot is added. A dirty London Fog adds a caffeine and flavor boost by combining a shot of espresso with the tea latte.

Does this London fog recipe have caffeine in it?

Yes — this recipe uses black Earl Grey tea, which contains caffeine. You can choose a caffeine-free or decaffeinated Earl Grey if you prefer.

More Favorites from Dessert for Two

Yield: 2

London Fog Drink

These Earl Grey tea lattes make a delightful daily treat. A copycat of the classic London Fog.

Prep Time
5 minutes

Cook Time
5 minutes

Total Time
10 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 cups hot water
• 2 teaspoons loose Earl Grey tea (or 2 tea bags)
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons honey

Instructions

1. Gather ingredients: water for boiling, tea, milk, vanilla and honey.
2. Bring the water to a boil. Place loose tea or tea bags in a cup and pour boiling water over them. Steep for 5 minutes.
3. Remove the tea bags or strain the leaves. Pour the brewed tea into two mugs.
4. Heat the milk and mix in vanilla and honey. Froth until velvety, then divide over the two mugs of tea and serve.

Notes

Earl Grey Tea: Loose-leaf is preferred, but tea bags are an easy substitute. Double-Bergamot Earl Grey adds extra fragrance.

Milk: Any milk works; cow’s milk and oat milk generally produce the creamiest foam.

Honey: Honey blends smoothly in warm liquids; granulated sugar is fine if fully dissolved.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 113
Total Fat: 2g
Sugar: 22g
Protein: 3g