We're sipping this incredibly creamy tea drink with sweet vanilla and honey. An Iced London Fog tea latte is the best version of an iced tea that we can all cool down with this summer.
If we are hot tea drinkers in the winter, then what are we in the summer? We are iced tea drinkers, of course!
My love for my hot London fog drink recipe extends into the hot summer months with this recipe! We are drinking an iced version of my all-time favorite drink. The option to add lavender in this Iced London fog is always present in either version of the drink by simply adding culinary lavender at the same time as the tea.
If you're looking for more special iced drinks for summer, try my Starbucks Double Chocolate Chip Frappuccino for a cold that contains coffee instead of tea. My peach iced tea is another simple option using tea and peach juice.
Ingredients
If you're a tea drinking baker, you probably already have all of the ingredients to make this iced London fog in your pantry. If not, read below for ingredient swaps and tips.
- Earl Grey Tea. The type of tea used is specific here; it cannot just be regular black tea. Classically, London fog is made with earl grey tea, which is a tea that contains oil of bergamot (a deliciously scented citrus fruit that smells like a cross between orange and grapefruit)
- Milk. Here at Dessert for Two, we believe the type of milk you use in your tea and coffee is highly personal. This iced London fog recipe works with cow's milk, almond milk, or even oat milk. My personal favorite is canned coconut milk for its richness, but use whatever you prefer to drink.
- Vanilla. The subtly sweet flavor of vanilla extract is a quintessential part of an iced London fog.
- Honey. The floral flavor of honey (especially an orange blossom honey) plays so well here, but you can use any type of honey or even real maple syrup in this recipe.
- Ice.
- Culinary Lavender Buds. Using lavender here is entirely optional. Sometimes, I add ¼ teaspoon of culinary lavender buds to the tea while it steeps, and sometimes I make this recipe without it. If you love lavender, you have to try it at least once! Also, be sure to use culinary grade lavender and a light hand so your latte doesn't taste like soap. You can make my lavender cookies with leftover buds.
How to Make Iced London Fog Tea Latte:
I really recommend making the first portion of this drink the night before. This way, you can wake up to a perfectly chilled iced London fog tea latte! However, if I forget, I simply start it right when I wake up and add ice just before heading out the door in the morning.
First, begin by bringing water to a boil in a tea kettle. Place the tea (either loose leaf of tea bags) in a glass measuring cup or small pitcher. Pour the boiling water over the tea and steep for 7 minutes. If you want to add lavender buds, add them with the tea.
Strain out the tea (or remove the tea bags), and whisk in the honey until fully dissolved. Place this mixture into the freezer for 15 minutes, or make this the night before you plan to serve it and chill it in the fridge overnight.
Pour the milk and vanilla into the chilled honey and tea mixture. Stir very well to combine.
Divide the ice between the serving glasses, and pour the tea into each glass. Serve immediately.
Substitutions
If you want to use alternative ingredients, here are my tips.
- Tea - Loose leaf Earl grey tea or bagged Earl grey tea are both welcome here. I think loose leaf tea offers more flavors, but use what you have!
- Honey - Any type of easy-to-dissolve liquid sweetener works here. I reach for honey most often, but maple syrup or agave nectar works, too. You can even use your sugar substitute of choice here, too.
- Milk - Whatever form of dairy or alternative dairy product you are using right now works in this latte.
Classically, a London fog is a cup of hot Earl grey tea with milk and sweet vanilla syrup. Our version today is technically an iced London fog, but it is more commonly enjoyed hot.
This drink tastes like a sweet, slightly floral and creamy iced tea. Think sweet tea, but with more nuanced flavors from the Bergamot citrus in the Earl Grey tea. If you like Italian sodas, you will love the milk in this iced tea.
We can't be sure exactly why a creamy sweet tea drink is called a London fog, but it is believed to be called that because of the way the milk forms rolling clouds as it is poured into the hot tea. It reminds us of the always foggy/cloudy London.
Iced London Fog Tea Latte
A creamy, vanilla sweet iced tea drink that is perfect for summer.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups water
- 4 teaspoons loose-leaf (or 2 tea bags) Earl Grey Tea
- 1 cup milk of choice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons honey
- 2 cups ice
- Optional: ¼ teaspoon culinary lavender buds
Instructions
1. Bring the water to a boil in a tea kettle. Place the tea (or tea bags) in a 2 or 4-cup glass measuring cup (or a small pitcher). Pour the boiling water over the tea, and let it steep for 7 minutes. (If you're using the lavender, add it with the tea).
2. Strain out the tea (or remove the tea bags), and whisk in the honey until fully dissolved.
3. Place this tea and honey concentrate in the freezer for 15 minutes. Alternatively, you can do this the night before and store it in the refrigerator overnight.
4. Pour the milk and the vanilla extract into the chilled tea concentrate, and stir very well.
5. Divide the ice between the serving glasses, and pour the tea into each glass. Serve immediately.
Notes
Honey - You can use agave nectar, real maple syrup, or even a sugar substitite here. Any type of easy-to-dissolve liquid sweetener works.
Milk - Whatever form of dairy or alternative dairy product you are using right now works in this latte.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 193Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 75mgCarbohydrates: 41gFiber: 0gSugar: 41gProtein: 4g
scott sproat says
where do you buy lavendar buds?
Tiffany says
Loose leaf tea shops, or spice shops may have them. If not, Amazon. I use Lavendar Syrup in mine instead of lavendar buds and honey.
Rivkah Gordon says
Since I grow my own lavender (56 plants or so) I always have organic lavender. Every once in while I infuse local honey with some lavender flowers. I bet that would be great in this! I would also add two or three drops of rose water to the iced tea. Just because I love rose water!
Rhianna says
Wait. Steep for 7 minutes?! Am I missing something? If I steep for more than 4-5 it gets very bitter!