Dairy free London Fog
A traditional London is one of my favorite hot drinks. This version is dairy free and tastes very much like the Starbucks London Fog Tea Latte. I have been learning so much about how to make the perfect latte without any fancy tools. This recipe will show you how to make a dairy free london fog tea latte. If you’d like an iced version of this drink click here.
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Dairy Free London Fog, Starbucks
Equipment
- Quart Sized Mason Jar
- MIcrowave or Stove
- Large Mug
- Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
Steep:
- 1-2 earl grey tea bags
- ¾ cup of boiling water
Add to jar or small sauce pan:
- 1 1/4 cup oat or coconut milk
- 1 TBSP honey or brown sugar*
- Pinch of salt
Add in:
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Place tea bag in the large mug you will drink your latte in. Pour hot water into the mug and steep the tea bag for 3-5 minutes.
Heating the Milk
- Microwave: While the tea is steeping, add the milk, sweetener and salt into a mason jar. Microwave the milk for about 1 minute 30 seconds (without the lid).Stovetop: Or place the ingredients in a small suace pan and heat on the stove until just steaming then pour into your glass jar.
Frothing the Milk
- Make sure the lid is closed tightly and using a tea towel to hold the jar, shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
Making the Latte
- Add the vanilla extract to the steeped tea and then pour in your frothed milk. I like to scrape out the jar to make sure I get all the foam. You can use a spoon to hold back the foam while pouring the milk and then spoon on at the end.
Notes
It’s good to note that the 16 oz Starbucks version probably has more like 2 TBSP vanilla syrup (1 pump = ½ TBSP). So if you want a more authentic home Starbucks drink add a bit more sugar!
What is in a London Fog Tea Latte?
A London Fog is a tea latte made with earl grey tea steeped in hot water with frothed milk and vanilla syrup.
What is in a Starbucks London Fog Tea Latte?
In a traditional Starbucks London Fog Tea Latte, size grande (16oz, about 2 cups), there are 2 earl grey tea bags steeped in hot water. With steamed 2% milk. It has 4 pumps of vanilla syrup. 1 pump of syrup is about ½ a TBSP or .5 oz
A tall (12 oz, about 1.5 cups) is made with 1 earl grey tea bag steeped in hot water and made with 2% milk. And it has 3 pumps of vanilla syrup.
Why does Starbucks use two tea bags?
Two tea bags certainly enhances the flavor by giving a stronger tea flavor to your latte. They want to ensure that the tea flavor comes through. I believe part of the reason they use 2 tea bags is because their system is all about speed. A tea latte at Starbucks is prepared in under a minute and given to the customer as soon as it is ready. Giving the tea less time to steep then the recommended 3-5 minutes steeping time. This would result in a lightly flavored taste for the first few sips if they were to only use one tea bag for a 16oz drink. I use one tea bag for my homemade tea lattes. It works just fine since it has the proper amount of time to steep.
Do I need to use two tea bags?
This is all about personal preference. If I make a 16oz drink (about 2 cups) then using 1 tea bag is the best option for me. If you prefer a stronger flavor then using 2 tea bags will work well for your taste preference. I sometimes make my homemade London fog tea latte with 2 tea bags. If I use 2, I don’t let it steep as long because it gets too strong for me.
What Type of Tea does Starbucks use?
I believe Starbucks currently uses the Teavana brand of tea. However it’s not necessary to use the same brand of tea. Simply pick the one that you like best. I’ve also read that adding a bit of lavender to your tea makes a great addition. Or you could find an earl grey tea that contains lavender like Twining with lavender or Tazo (contains lavender essence). I’ve never tried it but I want to once I get my hands on some lavender.
Starbucks Goal to Ethically Source Their Tea
During my research, of the Starbucks London Fog Tea Latte, I discovered that they are working to ensure that their tea is 100% ethically sourced. I was quite impressed with that because I’m sure that it means they pay more for their tea. They do not produce their own tea line, but purchase it from farmers worldwide. They work with the Ethical Tea Partnership to make sure that the farmers use sustainable practices and maintain humane working conditions for their workers.
How To Make a London Fog Tea Latte
How do I make a dairy free London Fog?
It’s simple enough to make a london fog dairy free, just choose your favorite unsweetened non-dairy milk for this recipe. My favorites are unsweetened oat milk or coconut. They both have a more creamy flavor then other dairy free/plant based milks. I’ve also tried macadamia nut milk and it was quite good for hot drinks. Almond or soy milk are not very fatty and therefore lack the rich creamy flavor most people think of when it comes to lattes. The tea latte will still be good but the taste will be lighter and less dessert-like.
Can I make a latte without a steamer or milk frother?
Yes! And yes! I recently discovered the secret to making beautiful foamy milk without a steamer. Of course, it’s not quite as foamy as what can be made with a frother but it comes pretty close.
Which dairy free milk froths the best?
Oat or coconut milk from a carton are the best dairy free milks to froth. The amount of foam that can be made with coconut or oat milk is much greater than what can be made with almond or soy. Especially without a steamer. Of course certain brands of dairy free milk are better for frothing but I don’t worry too much about that. I like So-Delicious for my coconut or califia farms oat milk. For oat milk that is best for frothing, you may want to try finding one that is labeled “barista blend’, they generally froth better than the regular blends. However they are a bit more expensive so I don’t use them as often.
Heating the milk on the stove top
First you will need to heat the milk. This can be done in a small saucepan on the stove top, Heat it on medium heat. Don’t allow it to boil. As soon as it starts to steam, remove it from the heat and pour it into a glass jar to froth.
Heating the milk in the microwave
Microwave the milk for 1 minute and 15 seconds. It should be lightly steaming. Remove from the microwave and place the lid on the jar.
How to froth milk using a mason jar
Make sure the lid is screwed securely onto the jar. Using a tea towel to hold the jari (it will be hot), shake vigorously for about 30 seconds. This will create a nice foamy milk for your drink.
If you like the hot one, why not try an Iced London Fog? (pictured below)
This London fog was just perfect
Love this recipe, reminds me of my childhood. Thank you for sharing.
Oh my goodness, I love this! It’s so fun making latte and drinks at home. Looking forward to trying this.
Yaaay! I moved to a new state, out of the big city and into a small little town with NO Starbucks. This london fog recipe was exactly what I was looking for and tasted perfect!
Yum! I love London Fogs! I always order them at Starbucks and this one hit the spot!
Oh, what an awesome copycat. Going out for coffee or tea is just so expensive nowadays. I’m so glad I found this recipe so I can enjoy my favorite drink and save some money!