London Fog: the Earl Grey tea latte explained

A London Fog is a tea latte made with Earl Grey tea, steamed milk and a little vanilla syrup. Despite the name, it is generally traced to Vancouver, British Columbia, rather than to London, and it has become a standard order at Canadian cafes. This guide covers the origin, a home method and how to order one.

What is a London Fog?

A London Fog is a hot drink of strongly brewed Earl Grey tea topped with steamed milk and flavoured with vanilla. It is sometimes called an Earl Grey tea latte, and in some places a London Fog latte or tea latte.

Earl Grey is black tea scented with oil of bergamot, a citrus fruit. The milk softens the tea, the vanilla adds sweetness and the foam gives the drink a soft, cloud-like top, which is the likely reason for the name.

Where does the London Fog come from?

The London Fog is commonly credited to Vancouver in the 1990s, and the most repeated account names a woman who asked a local cafe to steam milk with Earl Grey tea. The exact story varies by teller, and no single record settles it.

What is widely agreed is that it is a Canadian-era invention rather than an old English one. The name plays on the foggy weather associated with London and on the Earl Grey tea that is often linked with Britain. Today the drink is sold across Canada and in many cafes around the world.

How do you make a London Fog at home?

A London Fog is made by steeping Earl Grey tea strongly, adding vanilla syrup, and topping it with steamed or frothed milk. It takes about five minutes and needs only tea, milk and a sweetener.

1. Heat 120 ml (about half a cup) of water to just below boiling.
2. Steep one Earl Grey tea bag, or one teaspoon of loose leaf, for four to five minutes.
3. Remove the tea and stir in one to two teaspoons of vanilla syrup.
4. Heat 120 ml of milk in a small pot until steaming, not boiling.
5. Froth the milk with a handheld frother or by whisking in the pot.
6. Pour the milk over the tea, spooning the foam on top.

A strong brew matters. Weak tea disappears under the milk, so use less water than for a regular cup.

What does a London Fog taste like?

A London Fog tastes of floral, citrus-scented tea softened by creamy milk and a gentle vanilla sweetness. The bergamot gives it a perfumed, slightly lemony edge that sets it apart from a plain milk tea.

How sweet it is depends on the syrup. Cafes often add vanilla syrup by the pump, so asking for less sweet, or for no vanilla, is a common request.

London Fog vs chai latte vs matcha latte: what is the difference?

A London Fog uses Earl Grey, a chai latte uses spiced black tea and a matcha latte uses powdered green tea. All three are tea-based drinks with steamed milk, but they taste very different.

For more on the other two, see the guides to chai latte and matcha on this site’s tea category.

What milk works best?

Whole milk gives the creamiest, most stable foam, and that is why many cafes use it. Oat, soy and barista-style plant milks also steam well, and almond or rice milk produces thinner foam.

Milk that is too hot can taste cooked and flat, so aim for about 60 to 65 degrees Celsius. If the milk boils, the foam collapses faster.

Can you make a London Fog without vanilla or dairy?

Yes. Skipping the vanilla gives a plain Earl Grey latte, and swapping the milk gives a dairy-free version. A little honey or sugar can stand in for the syrup if sweetness is wanted.

• Less sweet: use half the syrup, or none.
• Dairy-free: use oat or soy milk, which froth well.
• Iced: brew the tea strong, cool it, and pour it over ice with cold milk.
• Stronger tea flavour: steep for five minutes rather than three.

What is the best Earl Grey for a London Fog?

A good London Fog needs a robust Earl Grey that still tastes of tea once the milk goes in. Classic Earl Grey, a black tea such as a Ceylon or Chinese blend scented with bergamot oil, is the usual base.

Lady Grey is a close relative that adds lemon and orange peel and has a softer, more citrus profile. Some cafes use a loose-leaf Earl Grey with cornflower petals for looks. The tea matters more than the syrup, so choose one with a clear bergamot scent, and brew it stronger than a plain cup.

What mistakes spoil a London Fog?

The most common mistake is weak tea, which gets lost under the milk. A close second is scalding the milk or adding too much syrup, which hides the bergamot.

• Steep the tea for a full four to five minutes before adding milk.
• Use less water than for a regular mug so the tea stays concentrated.
• Heat the milk only until it steams, about 60 to 65 degrees Celsius.
• Start with one teaspoon of vanilla syrup and add more after tasting.
• Spoon the foam on last, so it sits on top rather than mixing in.

Does Wildhearts Cafe serve a London Fog?

No London Fog is recorded on public sources for Wildhearts Cafe, so this guide cannot say that one is available. What is recorded is a wide range of teas, according to the Gleaner News article of 11 March 2026, a house drink called the Flu Buster and hot chocolate, with no prices published.

Anyone who wants a London Fog can ask staff at 509 Bloor St W in Toronto whether an Earl Grey tea latte can be made, ideally outside the busiest hours. The cafe is open 7 AM to 8 PM daily per Google Maps, and the menu page lists what has been recorded.

Common questions

Everything practical is on the home page: Wildhearts Cafe hours, menu and directions.

This article is general information from an independent guide, not from Wildhearts Cafe itself. For the store’s current details see hours and location.