Short answer
A London Fog is a hot tea latte made from Earl Grey tea, steamed milk and vanilla syrup. It is widely credited to Vancouver, British Columbia, and it contains no coffee. Cafe Episode lists a London Fog on its menu.
A London Fog is a hot tea latte made with Earl Grey tea, steamed milk and vanilla syrup. It is widely credited to Vancouver, British Columbia, and it contains no coffee. The drink is lightly floral from the bergamot in Earl Grey, creamy from the milk and gently sweet from the vanilla.
What is a London Fog?
A London Fog is an Earl Grey tea latte, meaning strong black tea combined with steamed milk and vanilla, served hot in a mug. Earl Grey is black tea flavoured with oil from bergamot, a citrus fruit, which gives it a perfumed, slightly citrusy taste.
The drink is also called an Earl Grey latte or a London Fog latte. The finished cup looks pale and cloudy, like its name, and has a thin layer of foam on top. A latte in this sense does not require coffee, because the word only describes a drink made with a lot of steamed milk.
Where does the London Fog come from?
The London Fog is widely said to have been created in Vancouver, Canada, in the 1990s, and the story is usually told as a customer asking a cafe for an Earl Grey tea with steamed milk and vanilla. Details such as the cafe and the date differ between accounts, so the exact origin is not firmly documented.
Despite the name, the drink is not a London tradition. It became popular across Canada and the United States, and many cafes now list it as a standard non-coffee item. Vancouver cafes often mention the local connection.
What does a London Fog taste like?
A London Fog tastes of floral, citrusy bergamot, mellow black tea, warm milk and sweet vanilla. The milk softens the tea’s tannins, so the drink tastes smoother and rounder than plain Earl Grey.
The vanilla syrup is the sweet note, and it is what separates the drink from a simple cup of Earl Grey with milk. Cafes that use less syrup taste more of the tea. Because bergamot is strong, the drink is distinctive even in a small mug.
How is a London Fog made?
A London Fog is made by steeping Earl Grey tea strongly, adding vanilla syrup and topping the cup with steamed, frothed milk. Cafes often use a tea concentrate or a bag steeped in a small amount of water so the tea is not diluted by the milk.
Typical steps in a cafe:
- Steep Earl Grey tea in hot water, usually for several minutes.
- Add vanilla syrup to the cup.
- Steam and froth milk until it is hot and smooth.
- Pour the milk over the tea and spoon a little foam on top.
The order matters little, but the tea should be brewed strong, because the milk takes away a lot of its flavour.
How do you make a London Fog at home?
You can make a London Fog at home with two Earl Grey tea bags, hot water, milk and a teaspoon or two of vanilla syrup. A hand frother or a small whisk is enough to produce foam.
- Pour about 100 ml of boiling water over two Earl Grey tea bags and steep for four to five minutes.
- Remove the bags and stir in one to two teaspoons of vanilla syrup.
- Warm about 150 ml of milk in a pan or microwave until steaming but not boiling.
- Froth the milk with a hand frother or whisk.
- Pour the milk into the tea and spoon the foam on top.
If you have no vanilla syrup, a few drops of vanilla extract and a teaspoon of sugar do the same job.
London Fog vs Earl Grey tea with milk: what is the difference?
A London Fog uses much more steamed milk, adds vanilla and has a foamy top, while a cup of Earl Grey with milk is just tea with a splash of cold or warm milk. The result is a creamier, sweeter drink.
| London Fog | Earl Grey with milk | |
|---|---|---|
| Milk | Steamed, a large amount | A splash |
| Sweetener | Vanilla syrup | Optional sugar |
| Texture | Foamy and creamy | Thin |
| Served | Cafe drink in a mug | Plain cup of tea |
The London Fog is closer to a latte than to a pot of tea, and cafes make it with a barista-style process.
Is the London Fog on the Cafe Episode menu?
Yes, the Cafe Episode menu lists a London Fog described as an Earl Grey tea latte with vanilla syrup, priced at $6.90 on Uber Eats, read 14 November 2026. It sits in the hot drinks without coffee group.
Other non-coffee hot drinks on the same menu include the Matcha Latte at $7.25, the Hot Chocolate at $6.60 and the Tea at $5.40. The prices are those shown in the Uber Eats app and can change, so check the menu page and the hours and location page before you go. This guide is independent and takes no orders.
Does a London Fog contain caffeine?
Yes, a London Fog contains caffeine, because Earl Grey is black tea, though the amount is usually lower than in a coffee of the same size. The caffeine level depends on how long the tea steeps and how strong the base is.
If you want a warm milky drink with no caffeine at all, ask the cafe about caffeine-free herbal options, since a London Fog is not caffeine-free. Anyone limiting caffeine for medical reasons should check with the cafe.
Can you make a London Fog iced?
Yes, an iced London Fog is made by brewing the tea strong, letting it cool, adding vanilla and pouring it over ice with cold milk. Brewing it concentrated keeps the flavour from fading as the ice melts.
Cold milk will not froth as well as hot, so the iced version has little foam. A cold foam on top is possible if you whip cold milk with a frother. Many people find the iced version lighter and more floral than the hot one.
What tea works best for a London Fog?
A strong, good-quality Earl Grey in loose leaf or tea bags works best, because the milk dilutes the flavour. Look for a blend with a clear bergamot scent and a robust black tea base.
Lady Grey, a related blend with added citrus peel and sometimes cornflower, gives a softer result. Using two bags, or a tea concentrate, helps the tea survive the milk. If the drink tastes thin, steep the tea longer or use less milk, not more syrup.
Common questions
Is there coffee in a London Fog?
No. A London Fog is made from Earl Grey tea, steamed milk and vanilla. It is a tea latte, so people who want a warm drink without coffee often choose it, though Earl Grey still contains some caffeine.
Why is it called a London Fog?
The name is generally linked to the foggy look of the pale milky tea and to the bergamot flavour of Earl Grey, a tea associated with England. The drink itself was not invented in London.
Can you make a London Fog with a tea bag?
Yes. Steep a strong Earl Grey tea bag in a small amount of hot water for four to five minutes, then add vanilla and hot frothed milk. Using two bags gives a stronger flavour.
Can you make an iced London Fog?
Yes. Brew the tea strong, let it cool, add vanilla and pour it over ice with cold milk. Brewing it concentrated stops the ice from making it taste weak.
What milk works best?
Whole milk gives the creamiest result, and oat milk is a popular plant-based choice because it froths well and tastes mild. Thin or watery milks make the drink taste flat.
Everything practical is on the home page: Cafe Episode hours, menu and directions.
This article is general information from an independent guide, not from Cafe Episode itself. For the store’s current details see hours and location.