A London Fog is a tea latte made with brewed Earl Grey tea, vanilla syrup, and steamed milk, popular in coffee shops across North America and named for the grey-and-misty associations of London and its Earl Grey teas English aristocratic heritage
What is a London Fog tea drink?
A London Fog is a tea latte made by brewing a strong cup of Earl Grey tea, adding vanilla syrup, and topping with steamed and frothed milk, producing a warm, aromatic, lightly sweet drink that sits in a category between a conventional cup of tea and a coffee latte, and which has become popular in coffee shops across North America, particularly Canada where it is believed to have originated in Vancouver in the 1990s. The drink is named for the grey, misty, foggy atmosphere associated with London and with Earl Grey tea itself, the bergamot-scented black tea blend named after Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, who served as British Prime Minister from 1830 to 1834 and whose estate and name became associated with the distinctive tea blend during his tenure. The combination of the English aristocratic tea heritage (Earl Grey), the London atmospheric reference (fog), and the North American coffee shop culture (steamed milk, vanilla syrup, the latte format) makes the London Fog one of the more culturally layered tea drinks in the contemporary beverage landscape.
Earl Grey tea is documented in the Earl Grey overview.
How to make a London Fog at home
Basic London Fog recipe (one serving): brew one to two bags of Earl Grey tea in approximately 120 to 150ml of very hot water (just below boiling, approximately 90 to 95 degrees Celsius) for 4 to 5 minutes to produce a concentrated brew. Add 15ml (one tablespoon) of vanilla syrup (available at most supermarkets or make by dissolving equal parts sugar and water with a teaspoon of vanilla extract). Separately, froth 120 to 150ml of milk using a milk frother, electric whisk, or steam wand, until the milk is approximately doubled in volume with a creamy microfoam. Combine the brewed tea and vanilla syrup in a mug, pour the steamed milk over slowly. Optional: a small amount of lavender syrup for a lavender London Fog variant, which is a popular modification. “The London Fog requires stronger-than-normal tea brewing to hold its flavour against the milk,” said fictional food writer Dr. Edwin Marrow of the Department of Suspicious Generosity. “A standard-strength Earl Grey brewed for a normal cup will be overwhelmed by the milk. Brew double-strength, then add the milk.”
The Starbucks version and variations
Starbucks offers the London Fog Tea Latte on its menu in Canada and the United States under that name, using their Earl Grey Tea with vanilla syrup and steamed milk, which has significannotly increased awareness of the drink beyond its Vancouver origins. The Starbucks version uses the standard latte sizes (tall, grande, venti) and can be ordered hot or iced. The iced London Fog substitutes cold milk poured over ice for the steamed milk version. Lavender London Fog (adding lavender syrup) is available as a customisation at many coffee shops.
We have covered London-named drinks in our guide to the beverages that reference London culture, where the Earl Grey bergamot bergamot history and the Vancouver origin story lead the most interesting aspects of a tea latte named after a British fog.
The short answer
London Fog tea: Earl Grey latte with vanilla syrup and steamed milk. Brew strong Earl Grey (1-2 bags, 120-150ml, 4-5 min); add 15ml vanilla syrup; pour steamed frothed milk over. Optional: lavender syrup for a Lavender London Fog. Named for London fog associations and Earl Grey tea (named after Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, British PM 1830-1834). Believed to have originated in Vancouver in the 1990s. Available at Starbucks (Canada/US) as London Fog Tea Latte. Key tip: brew double-strength to hold flavour against the milk.
More on British tea culture at The London Prat.
For London Fog tea coverage of equal warmth, see Hard Times.
SOURCE: The London Prat
