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Looking for a cool and refreshing twist on your favorite tea latte? This Iced London Fog Recipe is smooth, creamy, and lightly sweet with the perfect hint of vanilla. Made with Earl Grey tea, half-and-half, and plenty of ice, it’s a café-worthy drink you can easily make at home—no barista required!
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Since having children, I have slowly become the girl who needs a fancy drink to power through the afternoon shift. I’ve never liked coffee, but I’m drawn to the smell of coffee. The warmth of coffee. The wrapping-my-hands-around-a-warm-cup-of-coffee. The draw only goes so far as the first sip when the taste of coffee stops me in my tracks.
One day, while scrolling through Instagram (the starting point of many great stories), I came across someone mentioning a London fog.
“London fog?” I asked myself, picturing double-decker buses and cobblestone streets. “What is this?”
The name alone felt cozy and fancy- just the kind of thing I needed. I’ve always been a tea connoisseur (if only in my heart), and the thought of mixing Earl Grey tea with vanilla and milk just felt right. So, I figured out how to make an iced London fog recipe, and now it’s my nap-time treat, and it might become yours too.
“I don’t need a nap-time treat,” you might say. “I’m a grown up.”
*giggles*
To quote Lauralie Gilmore, “Grown-ups don’t refer to themselves as ‘grown-ups. They call themselves ‘adults’ and they pronounce it ‘A-dults’.“
Luke doesn’t have an iced London fog recipe to my knowledge, but if he did, I’m pretty sure Lorelai would order one. That’s the end of my Gilmore Girls sidebar
Whether you consider yourself a grown-up, an a-dult, or certainly if you’re a mom, we all need a little something to get us through the afternoon. A pick-me-up. A treat.
Allow me to introduce you to your new best friend- the iced London fog recipe.
What Is an Iced London Fog?
If you’re an uncultured bumpkin like me, you probably think the London Fog originated in London. The context clues all point to that side of the globe, right? Apparently not.
The London Fog is a creamy Earl Grey tea latte that originated in Vancouver, Canada, in the 1990s, not in London. Who knew? Traditionally served hot, it’s made with Earl Grey tea, vanilla, and steamed milk for a cozy, comforting drink.
The iced version is just as flavorful but refreshing and light—perfect for warm days. Instead of steamed milk, the tea is poured over ice and finished with cold cream or milk, giving you all the floral, citrusy notes of Earl Grey with a cool, creamy twist. Think of it as the summertime cousin of the classic London Fog.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Making an iced London Fog at home is simple and requires only a handful of ingredients you probably already have:
- Earl Grey tea – The base of the drink. Use a tea bag or 1–1.5 teaspoons of loose leaf per serving.
- Vanilla extract– Adds the cozy, signature flavor you’ll crave!
- Cane sugar- For the sweet notes that bring all the flavors together.
- Half-and-half (or milk of choice) – Gives the latte its creamy texture. Dairy-free options like oat, almond, or coconut milk work beautifully too.
- Ice – Essential for chilling the tea and creating that refreshing iced latte experience.
Optional: Add a drizzle of honey, maple syrup, or extra vanilla for a sweeter flavor.
How to Make This Iced London Fog Recipe
Step one: Steep 2 Earl Grey tea bags (or three teaspoons loose leaf) in 2 cups of hot water for 3–5 minutes. Remove the tea bag or strain the leaves and stir in 2 tablespoons of cane sugar.
Step two: Fill two tall glasses with ice and add vanilla extract. I recomment starting with two teaspoons and adding more according to your preference.
Step three: Pour the Earl Grey tea over the glasses of ice (one cup in each glass). Add ½ cup of half-and-half (or your preferred milk). Stir gently to combine. Enjoy!
Variations & Tips
- Make it dairy-free – Swap the half-and-half for oat milk, almond milk, or full-fat coconut milk for a dairy-free London Fog.
- Adjust the sweetness – Use more or less vanilla extract depending on your preference.
- Stronger tea, bolder flavor – Brew your Earl Grey for a longer time or use two tea bags for a more robust latte.
- Batch brew for later – Make a larger amount of tea, refrigerate it, and assemble iced London Fogs throughout the week.
- Add a twist – A sprinkle of lavender buds or a dash of cinnamon can make the flavor even more unique.
FAQs About Iced London Fog
What does a London Fog taste like?
A London Fog is smooth, creamy, and lightly sweet. Earl Grey tea gives it a floral, citrusy flavor from the bergamot, while the vanilla adds warmth and depth. The milk (or cream) makes it rich and velvety. When served iced, it’s refreshing but still cozy—like a creamy iced tea latte with a touch of elegance. In short, it tastes like heaven!
Can I make it with decaf Earl Grey?
Yes! Using decaf Earl Grey makes this drink a great caffeine-free option for evenings or pregnancy.
What milk works best?
Half-and-half is my favorite as it gives the creamiest result, but oat milk is the best dairy-free alternative because it froths and blends well.
Can I prepare it ahead of time?
Yes. Brew the tea with sugar and keep it chilled in the fridge for up to two days. Just pour over ice, add vanilla extract and milk, and you’ve got a quick iced latte.
Iced London Fog Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 bags Earl Grey Tea or 1 tablespoons loose leaf
- 2 tbs cane sugar
- 2-3 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup half-and-half
- ice enough to fill your cup
Instructions
- Steep two Earl Grey tea bags (or three teaspoons loose leaf) in two cups of hot water for 3–5 minutes. Remove the tea bag or strain the leaves, then stir in two tablespoons of cane sugar.
- Fill two tall glasses with ice and add vanilla extract. I recomment starting with two teaspoons and adding more according to your preference.
- Pour the Earl Grey tea over the glasses of ice (one cup in each glass). Add ½ cup of half-and-half (or your preferred milk). Stir gently to combine. Enjoy!
You’re going to Love this Iced London Fog Recipe!
I have a sneaky suspicion that if you think you don’t need a fancy drink, you’re about to be converted to my side. The right side. The I-need-a-fancy-drink-on-a-Tuesday side. When you find yourself on this side, the iced London Fog recipe is the only remedy! It’s so simple to make, and even if you aren’t familiar with tea lattes, you’ll find yourself craving one daily. Because this latte recipe is made with real ingredients (unlike coffee houses that use scary syrups and artificial sweeteners), you can feel good about indulging in this refreshing latte. I can’t wait for you to try it!
[…] our post about the Iced London Fog, I talk about how the London Fog tea recipe didn’t actually originate in London. While […]