It wasn't all that long ago when I discovered the London Fog drink. Traditionally, it's Earl Grey tea, milk, vanilla, and sweetener of your choice. I made a few using Trader Joe's Bourbon Vanilla Extract a couple years ago and was quite pleased with the results. Sonia has whipped up a London Fog or two of her own in the recent past and those were quite tasty, too. She's had a few from local coffee shops and generally likes the beverage. I don't think I've ever had one from a coffee place or a pre-mixed version prior to this offering from TJ.
To prepare Trader Joe's London Fog Tea Drink Concentrate, simply mix one part concentrate to two parts milk or non-dairy milk alternative. Serve over ice for a latte or heat it all up for a traditional hot tea beverage. Predictably, I preferred it cold and the beautiful wifey liked it better hot.
The result is surprisingly sweet. There's plenty of bright citrus and smooth, earthy Earl Grey underneath it, but the cane sugar and vanilla are more dominant than I expected. There's also a bit of extra citrus essence thanks to bergamot oil, lemon extract, and lemon juice concentrate. Earl Grey itself usually has some bergamot and citrus, and these extra ingredients helped accentuate the citrusy undertones.
We made ours with good old-fashioned cow's milk, which gave the drink a nice creamy body and helped mellow out some of that citrusy Earl Grey bite. But the beauty of a London Fog is that you can customize it to your heart's content. Oat milk would probably be a particularly good fit here, adding a little natural sweetness and a creamy texture that plays nicely with the vanilla. Almond milk might make things a bit lighter and nuttier, while soy milk could provide a fuller, creamier result of its own. Coconut milk might introduce a more pronounced tropical note, which could either complement the vanilla or compete with the bergamot, depending on your personal preferences. Your mileage may vary, of course, but there's plenty of room to experiment with this one.
$2.99 for the 16 oz bottle. Makes four 12 oz beverages after mixing with milk. Kosher. Keep refrigerated after opening. Sonia says Trader Joe's London Fog reminds her of the Earl Grey latte she used to get regularly from The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf many years ago, and she's a big fan of both. She'll go with eight and a half stars for Trader Joe's London Fog Tea Drink Concentrate. I'm not gonna argue with that.
Bottom line: 8.5 out of 10.
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