Earl Grey Lavender Latte Recipe

An Earl Grey lavender latte is a warm, creamy drink made with Earl Grey tea, steamed milk, vanilla, and a light touch of lavender. It is essentially a floral variation of a classic London Fog. It feels just a little more special than an ordinary cup of tea.

Earl Grey has always seemed like a comforting tea to me. I enjoy the distinctive citrus flavour of bergamot. The culinary lavender adds a touch of old-world elegance. The result is soothing, fragrant, and surprisingly easy to make at home.

This homemade lavender London Fog is lovely on a quiet afternoon, alongside a favourite book, or whenever you want something warm without making another cup of coffee. You don’t need an espresso machine or any special equipment, either. A small saucepan and a whisk will do the job nicely.

What Is an Earl Grey Lavender Latte?

An Earl Grey lavender latte combines strongly brewed Earl Grey tea with warm, frothy milk, vanilla, and lavender.

A traditional London Fog is generally made with:

• Earl Grey tea
• Steamed milk
• Vanilla syrup or vanilla extract
• A sweetener

Adding lavender gives the drink a soft floral flavour that complements the bergamot in Earl Grey tea. You may occasionally see it called a lavender London Fog, Earl Grey tea latte, or lavender Earl Grey latte.

Whatever you call it, it is a simple café-style drink that you can make in your own kitchen in about 10 minutes.

Why You’ll Love This Lavender London Fog

• It is warm, creamy, and comforting.
• You can adjust the sweetness to suit your taste.
• It can be made with dairy or plant-based milk.
• No espresso machine or milk frother is required.
• The recipe is easy to make hot or iced.
• It has a gentle floral flavour without being overpowering.

Ingredients

Earl Grey tea

Earl Grey is a black tea flavoured with bergamot, a fragrant citrus fruit. Its citrus notes work especially well with vanilla and lavender.

You can use loose-leaf Earl Grey or ordinary tea bags. I usually use two tea bags because the tea needs to be strong enough to hold its flavour once the milk is added.

Culinary lavender

Be sure to use food-grade culinary lavender, not lavender sold for crafts, fragrance, or decorative purposes.

A small amount is all you need. Lavender can quickly overpower a drink and make it taste more like perfume than tea. Start with ¼ teaspoon and add a little more the next time if you prefer a stronger lavender flavour.

Milk

Use whichever milk you normally enjoy in tea or coffee. Whole milk creates a particularly creamy latte, but 2% milk also works well.

For a dairy-free Earl Grey lavender latte, try oat milk, almond milk, or another unsweetened plant-based milk. Oat milk is a good choice if you want a fuller, creamier texture.

Vanilla

Vanilla softens the citrus and floral flavours and gives the latte that familiar coffee-shop taste. You can use vanilla extract or vanilla syrup.

Sweetener

Honey is especially nice with lavender, but maple syrup, sugar, or your favourite sugar substitute will also work.

How to Make an Earl Grey Lavender Latte

The key to a flavourful tea latte is brewing the tea a little more strongly than you would for an ordinary cup. Milk softens the tea’s flavour, so a weakly brewed tea may disappear once everything is combined.

Steep the Earl Grey tea and lavender together for about five minutes. While the tea is brewing, warm the milk gently on the stove. Avoid boiling it, as this can affect its flavour and texture.

Whisk the warm milk briskly to create a little foam, or use a handheld milk frother if you have one. Stir the vanilla and sweetener into the brewed tea, add the milk, and spoon the foam over the top.

That’s all there is to it.

Earl Grey Lavender Latte Recipe

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Total time: 10 minutes
Servings: 1

Ingredients

• ¾ cup water
• 2 Earl Grey tea bags, or 2 teaspoons loose-leaf Earl Grey tea
• ¼ teaspoon dried culinary lavender
• ¾ cup milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 to 2 teaspoons honey, maple syrup, sugar, or sweetener of choice

Instructions

1. Bring the water to a boil, then allow it to cool for approximately 30 seconds.
2. Place the Earl Grey tea and culinary lavender in a heatproof mug or small teapot.
3. Pour the hot water over the tea and lavender. Cover and steep for 4 to 5 minutes.
4. While the tea is steeping, pour the milk into a small saucepan. Warm it over medium-low heat until it is steaming, but do not allow it to boil.
5. Remove the milk from the heat. Whisk it vigorously for 30 to 60 seconds, or froth it with a handheld milk frother.
6. Strain the tea or remove the tea bags. Stir in the vanilla and your preferred sweetener.
7. Pour the warm milk into the tea. Spoon any remaining foam over the top.
8. Garnish with a very small pinch of culinary lavender, if desired, and serve immediately.

Tips for the Best Lavender Earl Grey Latte

Don’t use too much lavender

Lavender should add a gentle background flavour rather than dominate the drink. For your first latte, I recommend using only ¼ teaspoon.

Brew the tea strongly

Using two tea bags may seem like a lot for one drink, but the added milk dilutes the tea. A stronger brew produces a better-balanced latte.

Cover the tea as it steeps

Covering the mug helps retain the fragrant oils from the bergamot and lavender.

Avoid boiling the milk

Warm the milk only until it begins to steam. Boiled milk can develop a cooked flavour and may not froth as well.

Adjust the milk-to-tea ratio

For a stronger tea flavour, use a little less milk. If you prefer a milder and creamier drink, add more.

How to Make an Iced Earl Grey Lavender Latte

This recipe is just as good served cold.

Brew the tea and lavender using only ½ cup of hot water so the flavour remains concentrated. Remove the tea bags, strain out the lavender, and stir in the vanilla and sweetener while the tea is still warm.

Let the tea cool, then pour it over a glass filled with ice. Add ¾ cup of cold milk and stir. You can also top it with cold foam for a coffee-shop-style iced lavender London Fog.

For the best flavour, avoid pouring hot tea directly over the ice. This melts the ice quickly and can make the latte watery.

Make a Simple Lavender Syrup

If you plan to make lavender lattes regularly, a homemade lavender syrup makes the process even easier.

Try this Lavender Simple Syrup recipe.

Because the syrup contains both lavender and sugar, you won’t need to add the dried lavender or another sweetener when making your latte.

Variations

Lavender London Fog with honey

Sweeten the latte with honey for a soft flavour that goes well with the lavender and bergamot.

Dairy-free Earl Grey lavender latte

Replace the dairy milk with oat, almond, soy, or coconut milk. Oat milk tends to create the creamiest result without adding a strong competing flavour.

Vanilla lavender London Fog

Increase the vanilla extract to ¾ teaspoon, or use vanilla syrup as your sweetener.

Decaffeinated lavender latte

Earl Grey is traditionally made from black tea and contains caffeine. Use decaffeinated Earl Grey if you would like to enjoy this latte later in the evening.

Dirty London Fog

Add a shot of espresso to turn the drink into a dirty London Fog. The stronger coffee flavour will make the lavender more subtle, so you may want to use lavender syrup rather than dried lavender.

What Does an Earl Grey Lavender Latte Taste Like?

An Earl Grey lavender latte is creamy, lightly sweet, citrusy, and floral. The bergamot in the Earl Grey adds a distinctive citrus fragrance, while vanilla smooths the stronger flavours.

Lavender should be subtle. When used sparingly, it gives the latte a gentle herbal flavour rather than an intensely perfumed taste.

If you are unsure about lavender in drinks, begin with less than the recipe calls for. You can always add more the next time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does an Earl Grey lavender latte contain caffeine?

Yes. Traditional Earl Grey is made with black tea and contains caffeine, although generally less than a cup of brewed coffee. For a caffeine-free or lower-caffeine version, look for decaffeinated Earl Grey tea.

Can I use lavender tea instead of dried lavender?

Yes. You can steep one Earl Grey tea bag with one lavender herbal tea bag. Since tea blends vary in strength, taste the drink before adding any additional lavender.

Can I make this latte without a milk frother?

Absolutely. Warm the milk in a saucepan and whisk it briskly until bubbles form. You can also place the warm milk in a tightly sealed heatproof jar and carefully shake it, but make sure there is enough room for the milk to expand.

Can I prepare it ahead of time?

You can brew the Earl Grey and lavender ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to two days. Add milk when you are ready to serve it cold, or gently reheat the tea and milk separately for a hot latte.

What is the best milk for an Earl Grey tea latte?

Whole milk produces a rich and creamy latte. Oat milk is one of the best dairy-free choices because it also has a smooth texture and relatively neutral flavour.

A Simple Café-Style Treat at Home

This Earl Grey lavender latte recipe is proof that you don’t need complicated equipment or a long list of ingredients to make a lovely drink at home. 

It is an easy drink to make when you want to slow down for a few minutes and enjoy something more interesting than an ordinary cup of tea. Just remember to go gently with the lavender. You want a soft floral taste, not a mouthful of potpourri.