How to Make a London Fog (and Our Yorkshire Fog Twist)
A London Fog is Earl Grey tea brewed strong, sweetened with vanilla, then topped with hot frothed milk. It looks like fog in a mug, tastes like a creamy bergamot hug, and takes about five minutes from kettle to cup. If you have Earl Grey in the cupboard and milk in the fridge, you can make one right now.
The tea in this guide: Classic Earl Grey from £3.50 Shop it →
The drink contains no coffee at all. Think of it as a tea latte: the bergamot citrus of Earl Grey, the warmth of vanilla, and a layer of silky milk foam. Once you have the basic method, you can adjust sweetness, swap in oat milk, add lavender, or try our Yorkshire Fog Earl Grey for a blend that already contains vanilla and lavender in the leaf.
At a glance
- Earl Grey tea, vanilla, sweetener and steamed milk
- Zero coffee, lower caffeine than a latte
- Prep time 2 minutes, brew time 3 minutes
- Works hot or iced
- Named for the cloudy appearance when milk meets tea
What is a London Fog drink?
A London Fog is an Earl Grey tea latte. You steep Earl Grey in hot water, stir in vanilla and a sweetener such as honey, then pour frothed milk over the top. The result is creamy, lightly floral from the bergamot, and sweet enough to feel like a treat without tipping into dessert territory.
At Starbucks it is listed as an Earl Grey Latte, but most independent coffee shops call it a London Fog. The name likely comes from the cloudy appearance when warm milk swirls into the tea, though some connect it to London's historic smog. Either way, the drink itself was born far from London.
Where did the London Fog come from?
The drink was invented in the early 1990s at Buckwheat Cafe in Vancouver, Canada. Mary Loria, a regular customer who was pregnant and looking for something gentler than coffee, asked the barista for Earl Grey with skim milk. The barista was sceptical, but Loria's creation caught on, spread to other Vancouver cafes, and eventually travelled worldwide.
So despite the name, a London Fog is Canadian. The British connection is the Earl Grey, which has been blended here since the 1830s and remains one of the most popular teas in the country. The marriage of that familiar bergamot with steamed milk was a North American innovation.
London Fog recipe: step by step
This makes one generous mug (about 350ml). Total time: roughly five minutes.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons loose leaf Earl Grey (or 2 tea bags)
- 150ml freshly boiled water
- 150ml milk (any kind)
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 to 2 teaspoons honey, maple syrup or sugar
Method
- Boil the kettle. Warm your mug with a splash of hot water, then tip it out.
- Add the Earl Grey to an infuser or teapot. Pour over 150ml of freshly boiled water.
- Steep for 3 minutes. Earl Grey turns bitter beyond 5 minutes, so set a timer.
- While the tea steeps, heat the milk. If you have a frother or steam wand, froth until doubled in volume. Otherwise, warm the milk in a small pan over medium heat and whisk vigorously until foamy. Do not boil the milk.
- Add the vanilla and sweetener to the mug. Strain in the hot tea and stir until the sweetener dissolves.
- Pour the frothed milk over the tea. Let it settle into layers, or give it a gentle stir.
Black Tea
Black tea with fragrant bergamot citrus. A bright, familiar cup for your afternoon break.
Have a lookQuick reference
| Component | Amount | Time / Temp |
|---|---|---|
| Earl Grey | 2 tsp loose or 2 bags | 3 min, just-boiled |
| Water | 150ml | 100°C |
| Milk | 150ml | Heated, not boiled |
| Vanilla | 1/4 tsp extract | — |
| Sweetener | 1–2 tsp | — |
How to make a Yorkshire Fog latte
Our Yorkshire Fog Earl Grey already contains ground vanilla and lavender alongside bergamot and Indonesian black tea. That means you can skip the vanilla extract and likely skip the sweetener too. The result is a latte with a rounder, creamier character and a gentle floral finish.
- Brew 2 teaspoons of Yorkshire Fog in 150ml of freshly boiled water for 3 minutes, then strain.
- Froth 100 to 150ml of hot milk.
- Pour the milk into the tea. Taste before adding any sweetener.
The Santosa Indonesian black tea base has a chocolatey depth that carries milk well without disappearing. If you find classic London Fogs a bit thin, this version has more body.
Black Tea
Bergamot and vanilla soften into a fragrant black tea blend. Yorkshire fog you can see through.
Have a lookHot or iced London Fog?
Both work. For an iced version, brew the Earl Grey slightly stronger (use 2 heaped teaspoons in 100ml of water), steep for 3 minutes, then strain and chill in the fridge or freezer for 10 minutes. Fill a tall glass with ice, pour in the cold tea, add cold milk and vanilla, and stir. Serve immediately before the ice dilutes it too much.
If you are making it regularly in summer, you can cold-brew Earl Grey overnight in the fridge (1 tablespoon per 250ml, 8 to 12 hours) and keep it ready for quick iced lattes.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Over-steeping the tea
Earl Grey turns bitter if left more than 5 minutes. Aim for 3 minutes for a balanced cup. If you want a stronger tea flavour, add more leaf rather than extending the steep.
Boiling the milk
Boiled milk tastes flat and won't froth properly. Heat it until steaming, then froth. If using a pan, keep the heat at medium and remove it the moment it starts to steam.
Too much sweetener
Vanilla syrup is sweet on its own. If using extract plus honey, start with a teaspoon and taste. You can always add more. Yorkshire Fog already has vanilla in the blend, so taste the latte before reaching for the honey jar.
Wrong milk for frothing
Higher-fat milk froths more easily. Semi-skimmed works fine; skimmed is harder to foam. Oat milk froths well and has a natural sweetness that suits Earl Grey. Almond and soy milk vary by brand.
Does a London Fog have caffeine?
Yes, but less than a coffee-based latte. Earl Grey is black tea, which contains caffeine. A cup of black tea has roughly a quarter of the caffeine of a cup of filter coffee. If you are sensitive to caffeine or drinking in the evening, use Decaf Earl Grey or Earl Grey Rooibos, which is naturally caffeine-free.
RISE Brewing's ready-to-drink London Fog lists 25mg of caffeine per 7-ounce serving. A typical home-brewed version made with one or two teabags will be similar, though exact amounts depend on steep time and leaf quantity.
Lavender London Fog: the floral variation
Some cafes add dried culinary lavender to the steep for a more floral drink. If you want to try this, add half a teaspoon of culinary-grade dried lavender to the teapot alongside the Earl Grey, steep for 3 minutes, then strain both out. Use culinary lavender only; not all lavender varieties are safe for food.
With Yorkshire Fog, the lavender is already in the blend, so you get that gentle floral note without adding anything extra.
What to try next
If you enjoy the creamy, vanilla side of a London Fog, Cream Earl Grey leans into that sweetness without the floral lavender note. For a caffeine-free evening version, Earl Grey Rooibos gives you bergamot over mellow red rooibos.
Not sure which Earl Grey suits you? The Earl Grey Tasting Box includes five loose leaf blends, from Classic to creamy, zesty and malty versions, all in a letterbox-friendly box. Or try the Tea Finder if you want a recommendation based on how you drink your tea.
For more on the history and range of Earl Grey styles, see our essential guide to loose leaf Earl Grey tea.
Letterbox gift
Five loose leaf Earl Greys side by side, from the classic to creamy, zesty and malty takes on it.
Have a lookYou can order any of our Earl Greys for delivery anywhere in the UK, with free delivery on orders over £35. Or call into the shop in Byram Arcade, Huddersfield, and we will walk you through the shelves. The kettle is always on.
Frequently asked questions
What is a London Fog drink?
A London Fog is an Earl Grey tea latte made with brewed Earl Grey, vanilla, a sweetener like honey, and steamed milk. It contains no coffee. The name comes from the cloudy appearance when milk swirls into the tea, though the drink was invented in Vancouver, Canada, in the 1990s.
How do I make a London Fog at home?
Steep two teaspoons of Earl Grey in 150ml of freshly boiled water for 3 minutes. Strain into a mug, add vanilla extract and honey, then top with 150ml of hot frothed milk. Adjust sweetness to taste. The whole process takes about five minutes.
Can I make an iced London Fog?
Yes. Brew the tea slightly stronger, let it chill in the fridge or freezer for 10 minutes, then pour over ice and add cold milk and vanilla. Serve immediately before the ice dilutes the flavour too much.
Does Starbucks sell a London Fog?
Yes, though they call it an Earl Grey Latte. It includes Earl Grey tea, vanilla syrup and steamed milk. A hot or iced version is available. Making one at home lets you control the sweetness and use loose leaf tea for better flavour.
Is a London Fog caffeine-free?
No. Earl Grey is black tea, which contains caffeine, though less than coffee. For a caffeine-free version, use decaf Earl Grey or Earl Grey Rooibos. Both give you the bergamot flavour without keeping you awake.
What is the difference between a London Fog and a Yorkshire Fog?
A London Fog is any Earl Grey latte. Yorkshire Fog is our specific Earl Grey blend that already contains vanilla and lavender, so when you make a latte with it, you get a richer, more floral version without adding extra ingredients.
Sources: Gimme Some Oven · Country and Town House · Jo Cooks · A Beautiful Mess · The Manual
