London Fog lattes are my drink of choice at Starbucks when it’s chilly outside and I’m desperate to warm up with a hot cup of something that isn’t loaded with sugar like your typical Starbucks seasonal lattes. They’re warm and cozy on a cold rainy afternoon too. My favorite way to enjoy a London Fog latte is with the fireplace on; a riveting book downloaded to my kindle that I can get lost in while the rain lashes against my windows and I’m tucked away under a warm blanket with cafe jazz playing softly in the background. An hour of that, and I feel oh, so rested!
What is a London Fog Latte?
A bright citrusy latte made with earl grey tea, hints of lavender, vanilla, and sometimes, a stick of cinnamon. The tea is usually steeped and then warm, frothy milk is added to create a latte.
What ingredients do you need to make a London Fog latte?
Hot water: I like to heat the water in my electric kettle and then pour it into a measuring cup or my glass kettle for two. I add the tea bags first, then pour the water over the top, and allow the tea to steep. Dried lavender: This is an optional ingredient. I’ve made my LF latte with lavender a couple of times and never quite enjoy it as much as the version with a different ingredient (mentioned below.) I love lavender essential oil for my diffuser, and I don’t mind a nice lavender scented candle. But personally, lavender doesn’t work for me in a latte.Cinnamon stick: I love adding a small cinnamon stick to my earl grey latte! It gives it such a warm and comforting flavor as opposed to the bright flavor of lavender. I read about adding cinnamon to a London Fog latte years ago in some food magazine, and I have been doing it ever since. Give it a try; you too might enjoy it more than the original version.Earl Grey Tea: You can use loose tea leaves or tea bags. Either works for this recipe. I’ve found that I really like this brand of earl grey as well as this brand.Steamed milk: there are quite a few different ways to steam milk for this latte recipe, and I’ll share all of them below. Essentially, steamed milk is created by heating milk until the fat breaks down and creates the tiny foamy bubbles you see at the top of your cappuccino or latte. Using a steam wand or another machine that breaks down the fat gives your foamy a delicious silky flavor and texture.Sugar: you can sweeten your tea latte with granulated sugar, brown sugar, agave, maple syrup, or honey! All of these options would work. How much you add is entirely up to you. If you prefer your latte sweet, you may want to add about 2-3 teaspoons per cup.Vanilla extract: Sometimes, I like to add the vanilla in while I’m steaming the milk. This gives the milk a wonderfully vanilla foamy flavor and scent. Other times, I like to add the vanilla directly into the cups before pouring in the steamed milk.
How to make a London Fog latte at home:
4 ways to make steamed milk at home:
Other warm drinks you might enjoy:
Hot Chocolate BarHot Chocolate for TwoGingerbread LattePeppermint Hot ChocolatePumpkin Spice Latte
