I absolutely love London Fog tea lattes! However, visiting Starbucks every day would definitely break the bank. That’s why I came up with a quick, easy, and affordable recipe to enjoy this warm, creamy citrus delight in under three minutes—right from the comfort of home.

Close up of a London Fog latte in a tea cup on a cutting board

Last summer, my family embarked on a 17-day road trip. Yes, 17 days on the road with my husband and three kids, living out of hotels and our van. I plan to share that journey with you soon! Needless to say, I didn’t get much sleep on the trip.

One morning, while the kids were still asleep, I stopped at a coffee shop in St. Albans, Vermont, called Catalyst Coffee Bar. It was such a quaint place with a modern, relaxed vibe. If you’re ever in the area, I definitely recommend it!

That said, I’ve never been a coffee drinker. Anytime someone wants to meet me at a coffee shop, I get nervous. What do I order? I like tea, but not all teas. True to my type-A personality, I looked up Catalyst’s menu from the hotel room before heading over. I spotted something called a London Fog, described as “half Earl Grey tea, half steamed milk, and vanilla syrup.” It sounded safe enough for me.

Let me tell you—it was absolutely delicious! You know those orange and vanilla creamsicle popsicles? The flavors were reminiscent of that, with the bergamot citrus blending beautifully with the milk. For the rest of our trip, I made my husband stop at Starbucks along the route so I could get my daily London Fog fix.

When we returned home, I realized that getting Starbucks every day wasn’t exactly budget-friendly. So, I began experimenting with different teas and vanilla syrups to recreate a London Fog at home—and dare I say, it’s even better than Starbucks!

Here are my favorite ingredients:

Tea: My absolute favorite is Stash Breakfast in Paris—it has a stronger citrus flavor compared to others. I also love Teavana Earl Grey.
Milk: I prefer oat or almond milk. My go-to is Califia Farms Organic Oatmilk because it only has a few ingredients (water, organic oats, sea salt).
Vanilla: Sweetleaf Vanilla Sweet Drops are perfect because they take up so little cabinet space and have a fantastic flavor. If you prefer a classic syrup, Torani Zero Sugar Vanilla is excellent as well. I used it for a long time but eventually got tired of how much counter space it occupied.

Picture of 3 items used for making a London Fog latte, including tea, oat milk and vanilla stevia drops

This latte can be made in two ways:

The quick and easy way—using a microwave. While I try to use microwaves sparingly, they are incredibly convenient when you’re in a hurry! You can heat both the water and the milk in the microwave, as noted in the recipe below.

The “fancy” way—using a kettle for the water and a frother for the milk. If you’re in the mood for fluffy, frothy milk, this is the way to go! Plus, it’s definitely the healthier option. I love using my fold-down kettle because it saves so much space in my cabinets. And this milk frother is not only easy to use but also elevates the latte experience.

Ingredients

1/2 cup water
1/2 cup milk of choice (I prefer oat milk)
1 teabag Stash Breakfast in Paris Tea (or your preferred Earl Grey tea)
1 squirt Sweetleaf Vanilla Sweet Drops stevia sweetener (or 2 pumps of vanilla syrup if preferred)

Instructions

Heat the water until it boils. I usually microwave it for about 1 minute and 10 seconds, but you can also use a kettle.
Place the teabag in your desired cup and pour the hot water over it. Let the tea steep while you warm the milk.
Heat the milk until it’s hot. I typically microwave it for 1 minute, but you could also use a milk frother.
Add the hot milk to your tea.
Add 1 squirt of stevia vanilla flavoring (or 2 pumps of your preferred syrup). Stir well and enjoy!

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Easiest London Fog Latte