Try this London Fog (Earl Grey Latte) recipe, or contribute your own.
- Carbohydrate 0.26565 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Fat 0.00126 g
- Fiber 0 g
- Protein 0.00126 g
- Saturated Fat 0.00021 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (2g)
- Sodium 0.189 mg
- Sugar 0.26565 g
- Trans Fat 0.000756 g
- Calories 6 calories
Step-by-step
- Bring water to near-boil and pour into two separate mugs with a tea bag in each or into a small tea pot with two tea bags or infuser.
- Allow the tea to steep 4-7 minutes (or according to instructions/preference) before removing tea bags/infuser. Add a ½ tsp of vanilla to each latte and ¼ tsp of honey or maple syrup if using, stirring to combine.
- Meanwhile prepare the frothed milk: place 1 cup of cold (refrigerated) milk in stainless steel container (or whatever method you are using) - add lid and hand pump enthusiastically about 20 times. Gently remove the lid from the container (tapping to allow any milk to fall back into the container) and immediately transfer the freshly frothed milk into a clean pint sized mason jar or other suitable jar (it should be no more than half full) and microwave until the frothed milk has approx doubled in volume and before it spills over (if you are new to this, watch carefully to determine the right amount of time in your particular microwave - for us, it's 52 seconds on the button ;o
- Carefully remove the glass jar from microwave and divide foam between the lattes using the method you may have observed from baristas - take a generous sized spoon and hold back the foam to allow some of the warm milk beneath to pour into the glass and then release the spoon to allow the foam to cover the top - you can help by scooping some of the foam at this stage, adding as much or as little as desired. Enjoy as is or with your favorite spice sprinkled on top.
- It may take a couple practices to get the frothing method down but you'll get the hang of it in no time (next thing you know you'll be wowing everyone with your latte art and packing your frother in your valise for your next holiday).
A fragrant steam rises from the mug carrying distinct notes of bergamot, balanced by sweet vanilla and topped with a dense layer of microfoam. Earl Grey tea relies on black tea leaves infused with oil of bergamot, providing a citrusy backbone that stands up cleanly against dairy or plant-based milks. Steeping the leaves for four to seven minutes ensures maximum tannin extraction without turning the brew overly bitter, while keeping the water just below a rolling boil prevents scorching the delicate flavor compounds.
Adapting for Dietary Restrictions
Dairy-free modifications require selecting alternatives with adequate fat and protein content to mimic cow's milk behavior during frothing. Oat milk contains higher amounts of unsaturated fats and starches that stabilize foam effectively when heated in the microwave. Almond milk yields a lighter, more delicate froth that dissipates faster due to lower protein levels. Sweetener adjustments are straightforward when swapping honey for maple syrup at a strict one-to-one ratio, though grade A amber syrup adds a distinct woody note compared to neutral floral honeys.
- Milk does not double in volume during microwaving: Ensure the starting liquid is refrigerator cold and the hand-pump container creates sufficient initial air bubbles before heating.
- Tea tastes astringent or metallic: Reduce the steeping time to four minutes and verify that the water temperature has dropped slightly from a boil.
- Foam separates too quickly from the liquid: Switch to a barista-blend plant milk formulated with stabilizers designed to withstand heat.
