Misha Madahian Contributor

Autumn is upon us now; the leaves are falling, the wind is chilling to the core, and University of Toronto students are searching for a cute spot to hunker down and study. Cafes are essential to students, be it for studying, hanging out with friends, or grabbing a warm drink to bring to lectures. Originally invented in 1990s Vancouver, London Fog, a hot black tea latte with a floral vanilla flavor, might be the perfect cozy drink to try this fall.

Make Your Own London Fog at Home!

Ingredients: milk, sugar, vanilla, and Earl Grey

A note on Earl Grey: The entire flavor profile of a London Fog is dependent on the tea used. Any brand of Earl Grey can be used, though they will all yield different results. In my opinion, the best tea for London Fog is Sloane’s Heavenly Cream loose leaf. Personally speaking, Twinings Earl Grey is banned for London Fog use. It is terrible on all counts (too lemony and horrible), so bother wasting a good cup of milk on it.

1. Boil your water and fill your cup around a third of the way. Then, steep your Earl Grey in it for three minutes.

2. Heat up your milk (this can be done in a microwave, stovetop pot, or milk steamer).

3. Add around a spoonful of sugar and a touch of vanilla to the milk, then stir.

4. Add the milk into the cup. Don’t remove the tea bag, allow it to steep with the milk for a couple minutes.

5. Done!

If you like, you can add some lavender leaves to the latte, add cinnamon, substitute the milk with alternatives — the world is your oyster-latte!

Cafe Recommendations for London Fogs

I would consider myself to be somewhat of an authority on London Fogs, ask anyone I speak to for longer than a minute, and they will begrudgingly agree. As likely the drink’s biggest fan in Toronto, I have spent the past year trying London Fogs at various cafes and am here to impart a list of the five best spots to get one on campus. It is rare to find a cafe that does a London Fog well, which is why I have put this list together. I’m judging based on taste as well as the environment of the cafe (how suitable is it for studying?). As a note, the ranking is unimportant, the number does not matter. They are all different and have their own special qualities.

1. Dark Horse Espresso Bar

The Dark Horse Espresso bar, located in the basement of Indigo on Bloor. The London fog there is perfectly sweetened, and the tea has an enjoyable lavender aftertaste. The milk is smooth, and the cafe also offers a selection of baked goods. It being inside an Indigo makes it a perfect place to stop and get a hot drink after shopping for books. One thing to note is that this cafe is possibly the priciest out of the ones in this list; wallets have been known to wheeze out death groans when seeing the prices for pastries.

Also, while the location does offer an iced London Fog, I would avoid it. The quality of it has been inconsistent in my experience, and there is a chance you might end up with an un-steeped drink (which at a certain point, just becomes sweet milk).

2. Kibo Sushi at Gerstein

It might seem odd to go to a sushi place for a latte, however the Kibo Sushi located in Gerstein Library’s basement serves an excellent London Fog. Their drink has a slight grittiness to it, which I find delightful. I think it’s because they likely use London Fog powder rather than just steeping the tea. This may not be for everyone however I find it great and a good way to maintain consistency when serving. The drink also has a touch of lavender, floral and sweet. The sweetness can be a bit much, so I would recommend asking for slightly less sugar.

3. Dessert Lady Cafe and Bakery

This small bakery on Sultan Street is a quiet gem. While it primarily serves cakes and pastries, they make a well-done London Fog latte. The latte is nontraditional, while they do use an Earl Grey teabag, it has more of an English Breakfast flavor: bold and dark. However, this does not make it a harsh drink, in fact the warm milk and slight sweetness makes it taste cozy, soft, and nostalgic. Personally, it evokes the feeling of a grandmother sitting by the fire, although that might be a bit abstract.

4. No.10 Dean

Located right off of College Street, No.10 Dean is a beautiful place to study. The cafe offers a large number of comfy seating options, and the environment somewhat resembles a furniture store. Their London Fog is very rich and creamy. It is smooth, with a cereal milk-like taste. Their cups are also gorgeous.

5. Neo Coffee bar

The Neo Coffee bar has two locations near campus, one on Bay off of College Street and one on Yonge and Gloucester. They serve a delightfully floral London Fog, with a beautiful scent. The flavor has a hint of lavender, and very interestingly, I believe they add pepper to their latte. At first, I thought the small black specks to be vanilla, but to my surprise there was an intriguing taste of pepper. Though I would never have thought of such a thing before, I did like it very much. An appreciated bonus is that they have milk substitutes (including lactose-free milk) at no extra charge, which is essential for many-a-lactose-intolerant London Fog lovers. The cafe’s environment is also very cozy and lovely, with large wooden tables and pretty shelves.

Be warned! Laptops are not allowed to be brought into the cafe on weekends, so if you plan to stay and study, do so during the week!