If you love the comforting flavors of a classic London Fog but need a cool, refreshing version, this Iced London Fog Latte with Vanilla Sweet Cream is exactly what you're looking for. Earl Grey tea's fragrant bergamot, a touch of lavender, and homemade vanilla sweet cream make for the perfect café-quality drink-right in your own kitchen!
This iced latte is perfect for warm summer mornings when you want something a little lighter than coffee but you are still craving something complex and delicious. It also works perfect as an afternoon pick-me-up, pairing beautifully with a light pastry or scone.
Ingredients
To make this delicious iced latte, you'll need just a few key ingredients, including a homemade vanilla syrup, a fragrant Earl Grey tea concentrate, and a rich and creamy vanilla sweet cream topping.
Vanilla Simple Syrup
This homemade syrup adds is used in twice in this recipe and it the perfect touch of vanilla while also being the sweetening component for the Vanilla Sweet Cream shown below.
- Sugar - Plain old granulated sugar works great. Use brown sugar for a more complex flavor if desired.
- Water - Can't have a simple syrup without it! Equal measurements of water to sugar work perfect.
- Whole Vanilla Bean (or Vanilla Extract) - Adding vanilla adds soft complexity and deliciousness. Whole bean vanilla provides the freshest flavor, but vanilla extract works just as well. Be sure to add either option off the heat so you don't accidentally boil off the flavor compounds.
- Pinch of Kosher Salt - Adding a small pinch of kosher salt helps to boost the other flavors. It's like a secret weapon to make simple syrups extra delicious!
Tea Concentrate
A strong tea base infused with Earl Grey and a hint of lavender gives this latte its signature flavor. Starting with an extra concentrated tea keeps things from being watered down when you add the ice cubes later.
- Boiling Water
- Earl Grey Tea Bags - I recommend using Friendship Organics brand. It has the most intense citrus notes of any Earl Grey tea that I've tried
- Food-Grade Lavender - Be sure to use a food-grade variety. I like this brand from Amazon.
- Cubed Ice
- Vanilla Simple Syrup (from above)
Vanilla Sweet Cream
This sweet cream is a versatile coffee/tea/latte addition that adds an ultra-luscious and creamy finish. This helps to balance the floral and citrus flavors of the tea and provides a creamy, cool finish.
- Heavy Cream
- Whole Milk
- Vanilla Simple Syrup (from above)
How to make an Iced London Fog Latte
This Earl Grey tea latte is simple and quick to make. Preparing the simple syrup ahead of time helps to speed things along and will last in the fridge for a while. Once the simple syrup is made, anytime you want one of these, it's as easy as brewing up some tea and mixing up some of the sweet cream. Just follow these steps to brew the tea concentrate, mix in the vanilla syrup, and then top it off with rich vanilla sweet cream!
Step 1 - Make the Vanilla Simple Syrup
Add the water and sugar to a small sauce pan and bring to a boil over high heat. Turn off the heat and stir in the vanilla bean (or extract) and a pinch of salt. Transfer to a sealed container and allow to cool completely.
Step 2 - Make the Earl Grey Tea Concentrate
Bring water to a boil. Pour over Earl Grey tea bags, food-grade lavender, and steep for 10 minutes.
Step 3: Make the Sweet Cream
While the tea concentrate is steeping, combine the heavy cream with a splash of whole milk and a few teaspoons of the vanilla syrup. Whisk together with an electric milk frother until slightly thickened but not stiff (no more than 30 seconds).
Step 4: Assemble the Drink
Fill a glass with cubed ice, pour the tea concentrate over it, then top with the sweet cream. Stir gently and enjoy!
Variations
- Skip the Simple Syrup - Short on time, or don't feel like making simple syrup - simply add a few teaspoons of your favorite sweetener, like honey or agave syrup instead of the vanilla simple syrup.
- Tea Variety - Swap out the Earl Grey for Chai for an Indian-inspired spiced version.
- Caramel London Fog - Drizzle caramel over the sweet cream for an extra boost of sweetness.
- Serve It Hot - Skip the ice and serve it hot!
Equipment
You don't need much to make this drink, but a few simple tools will help you achieve the best results. As always, you can use what you have on hand to make this recipe; the list below will simply make things easier.
- Electric Kettle - This Breville electric kettle is perfect for quickly boiling water. I also love that it has different brewing temperature options for making other varieties of tea, or French press coffee!
- Electric Milk Frother - This handheld electric milk frother is perfect for quickly making the creamiest, smoothest sweet cream. If you're feeling fancy and want to make several different varieties of milk foam, this standalone electric milk frother fits the bill nicely! This would be a great addition for any serious coffee/tea enthusiasts equipment.
- 12 Ounce Glass - I used these can glasses from Amazon in the pictures. These are the perfect size and are really fun to drink out of!
How to Make this Latte Ahead of Time
You can definitely make this Iced London Fog Latte ahead of time! It's as easy as making the main components ahead of time and then storing them in the fridge until you're ready to use them. Feel free to make a big batch and you'll have enough to last for a few days!
The vanilla syrup makes enough for multiple drinks and will keep in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Make a big batch of the tea concentrate and store it up to 3 days in the fridge, then simply use the ingredients as needed.
The only component that will need to be made fresh every time is the Vanilla Sweet Cream. The foam deteriorates fairly quickly, so this needs to be made every time.
Top Tip
Having patience while steeping the tea concentrate is crucial to extracting the flavors out of the Earl Grey. If you cut the steeping time short, the tea will become watered down when added to the ice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Make and store the vanilla simple syrup and the tea concentrate in the fridge and assemble when ready. (The vanilla sweet cream is the only component that will need to be made fresh every time.)
You can, but you'll lose the bergamot flavor from the Earl Grey that really makes this drink unique.
Pairing Recommendations
Looking for something to go with this recipe? Check out the recipes below to go with your afternoon pick-me-up!
Did you make this recipe for Iced London Fog Lattes with Vanilla Sweet Cream?
Let me know how yours turned out in the comments below, and don't forget to leave a rating!
Recipe
Iced London Fog Latte with Vanilla Sweet Cream
Equipment
- Electric Kettle Optional
Ingredients
Vanilla Simple Syrup
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1 cup Water
- 1 Vanilla Bean split, or 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- pinch of Kosher Salt
Earl Grey Tea Concentrate
- ⅔ cup Boiling Water
- 3 Earl Grey Tea Bags I recommend Friendship Organics Brand
- ¼ teaspoons Food Grade Lavender
- 1 cup Cubed Ice
Vanilla Sweet Cream
- 4 tablespoons Heavy Cream
- 1 ½ tablespoons Whole Milk
- 1 ½ tablespoons Vanilla Simple Syrup From Above
Instructions
Vanilla Simple Syrup
- In a small saucepan, add the water, sugar, and salt. Heat over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until boiling.
- Remove from heat. Stir in the vanilla bean or vanilla extract and allow to cool completely.
Earl Grey Tea Concentrate
- Combine boiling water, tea bags, and food-grade lavender. Cover and steep for 6 to 8 minutes.
- Remove tea bags and lavender and allow to cool for about 20 to 30 minutes.
Vanilla Sweet Cream
- In a small glass or bowl, combine the 4 tablespoons heavy cream, 1 ½ teaspoons whole milk, and 1 ½ tablespoons of vanilla simple syrup. Froth for 15 to 20 seconds until it begins to thicken slightly. Take care not to overmix, as that will make it too stiff.
Assembly
- Add the ice to a 12-ounce glass. Pour the brewed and cooled tea over the ice.
- Gently pour the vanilla sweet cream over the top and serve. Garnish with a small sprinkle of more lavender leaves if desired.
Stacy says
The perfect afternoon pick me up! Perfectly sweet without being over the top. Love friendship brand earl gray tea also!