London Fog Bubble Tea
London Fog bubble tea is Earl Grey milk tea with vanilla, milk, and chewy black tapioca pearls. That’s the whole point, and I’m not trying to make it trendy.
I’m British, so Earl Grey is a flavour I always come back to. A good London Fog already smells right, tastes balanced, and feels comforting. The bergamot in Earl Grey gives a light citrus note, vanilla smooths everything out, and milk turns it into a drink you would actually order in a café.
This London Fog bubble tea keeps the original flavour exactly as it should be and adds boba for texture. I only use black tapioca pearls here, because they suit Earl Grey better than anything else.
If you enjoy creamy milk teas and want something calmer and less sweet than brown sugar boba or most matcha drinks, London Fog bubble tea is a good place to start.
What a London Fog is and why it works as bubble tea
A traditional London Fog is made with Earl Grey tea, vanilla, and steamed milk. It is usually served warm, but iced versions are common as well.
Earl Grey works especially well as a milk tea base because it already has a strong, recognizable flavor. When I make London Fog bubble tea, I am not changing the drink; I am simply adding chew from the pearls.
If you are new to making bubble tea at home, this is one of the easiest milk tea recipes to start with.
If you want a simple explanation of what bubble tea is and how tea bases affect flavour, my What Is Bubble Tea? guide explains it clearly.
What you will need
It’s easy to find everything here, but I usually order black tapioca pearls online because the ones at the store aren’t always good.
- Earl Grey tea bags or loose-leaf tea
- Water
- Milk (whole milk or oat milk both work well)
- Vanilla extract or vanilla syrup
- Black tapioca pearls (this is the brand I use most often because they cook evenly and stay chewy)
- Brown sugar or cane sugar, for sweetening the pearls
- Ice, for the iced version
- Lavender syrup or lavender simple syrup (optional)
I only use black tapioca pearls for this London Fog bubble tea recipe because they keep the flavour clean and classic.
If you are unsure which pearls to buy, my guide to tapioca pearls for bubble tea explains the differences between quick-cook and shop-style boba.
How to make London Fog bubble tea
London Fog Bubble Tea
A classic London Fog turned into bubble tea with Earl Grey, vanilla, milk, and chewy black tapioca pearls. Smooth, lightly sweet, and perfect hot or iced.
Ingredients
For the tea
- 1 Earl Grey tea bag or 1½ teaspoons loose-leaf Earl Grey
- 1 cup freshly boiled water
- ½ cup milk (whole milk or oat milk work best)
- ½–1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla syrup, to taste
- For the boba
- ¼ cup black tapioca pearls
- Water, for cooking
- 1–2 tablespoons brown sugar or cane sugar
- To serve
- Ice (for iced version)
- Dried Lavender (Optional)
- For the tea
- Lavender syrup or lavender simple syrup (½–1 tsp, to taste)
Instructions
- Brew the Earl Grey: Bring the water to a boil, then remove from the heat.
- Steep the Earl Grey for 3–5 minutes, until fragrant but not bitter.
- Remove the tea bag (or strain the leaves) and let the tea cool slightly.
- Cook the tapioca pearls: Cook the black tapioca pearls according to the package instructions.
- Drain, then toss with brown sugar and a small splash of hot water.
- Keep warm until ready to use.
- Mix the milk tea: In a cocktail shaker (or a jar with a tight lid), combine the brewed tea, milk, vanilla, and lavender syrup (or lavender simple syrup).
- Add a handful of ice, then shake hard for 10–15 seconds until frothy.
- Assemble the drink: Add the warm tapioca pearls to your serving glass.
- Add fresh ice (for an iced version).
- Strain and pour the frothy London Fog milk tea over the pearls.
- Serve: Serve immediately while the pearls are still warm and chewy.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 144Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 38mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 2g
Nutrition information is an estimate only. Values will vary based on brands, add-ins, and portion sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a London Fog the same as Earl Grey milk tea?
A London Fog is Earl Grey tea with vanilla and milk. When you add tapioca pearls, it becomes London Fog bubble tea.
Can I make London Fog bubble tea iced?
Yes. Brew the tea slightly stronger, let it cool a bit, then pour it over pearls and ice so it doesn’t taste watered down.
What milk works best for London Fog bubble tea?
Whole milk gives the richest flavour, but oat milk works very well with Earl Grey and vanilla.
Does London Fog bubble tea need to be sweetened?
Not necessarily. Many people sweeten it lightly because the bergamot and vanilla already add flavour.
Can I make the boba ahead of time?
Boba is best the same day. As it sits, it firms up and loses its chewy texture.
London Fog bubble tea: hot or iced
A classic London Fog is best known as a warm drink, and warm versions let the bergamot aroma come through more clearly.
Iced London Fog bubble tea is also genuinely good, but it is important not to water it down. Too much ice combined with weak tea will flatten the flavour.
If you are deciding between milk tea vs fruit tea, this recipe shows why milk teas tend to feel richer and more filling.
Things I actually do
- I use a good Earl Grey, because if the tea tastes dull, the whole drink tastes dull.
- I add vanilla after brewing, not during, so the flavour stays clean.
- I keep the sweetness low, because London Fog bubble tea should taste smooth, not sugary.
- I serve the pearls fresh, because boba firms up quickly and the texture is never the same.
- Lavender syrup or lavender simple syrup
The recipe is simple, but the details matter.
Notes on calories and nutrition
The calories in London Fog bubble tea can vary a lot depending on the milk you use, how much sugar you add, and how much boba you include.
Milk tea with tapioca pearls is usually more filling than fruit tea, especially when made with whole milk or sweetened syrups.
If you want to see how milk choice, sugar level, and toppings change the numbers, the BobaCal Bubble Tea Nutrition Calculator lets you build your exact drink.
For broader comparisons, my Ultimate Bubble Tea Calories Guide walks through common bubble tea orders.
Who this recipe is for
This London Fog bubble tea is for you if you:
- Want a classic milk tea without artificial syrups
- Enjoy Earl Grey or other black teas
- Prefer creamy, café-style bubble tea
- Want a boba drink that feels calmer and less sweet
I make this one repeatedly because it always tastes like what it claims to be.
My Final thoughts
London Fog bubble tea tastes like the original drink, but it has boba pearls in it.
If you like the taste of traditional milk tea and want a balanced homemade bubble tea that feels grown-up, this one should always be in your rotation.
