This vanilla tea latte is a luxurious blend of black tea, milk and homemade vanilla simple syrup. It is a smooth and fragrant elegant café-style drink that can be served hot or iced.
Easy Vanilla Tea Latte
A vanilla tea latte is perhaps one of the most simple flavoured tea lattes to make. If you enjoy vanilla lattes with an espresso base, this is the tea version.
It is made with a bold black tea, frothed or steamed milk and vanilla simple syrup. The vanilla syrup enhances the tea rather than competing with it and it pairs beautifully with milk as well.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Delicious and caffeine-flexible: You can make it with black tea, decaf or even rooibos.
- Naturally flavoured: Made with real vanilla simple syrup, not flavoured powders or artificial syrups.
- Café quality at home: Creamy, lightly sweet and easy to customize.
- Hot or iced: One recipe, two ways to enjoy it.
Ingredient Notes
- Black Tea: Black tea is the most common choice for a vanilla tea latte. English Breakfast, Assam or Orange Pekoe all work well.
- Water: Use freshly boiled water to properly steep the black tea.
- Vanilla Simple Syrup: This recipe uses homemade vanilla simple syrup. The flavour is warmer and more balanced than store-bought syrups but you can use the latter if you already have it.
- Milk: Dairy or oat milk will make for a creamier latte, but other dairy-free options can be used, if desired.
- Ice and Whipped Cream: For the iced vanilla tea latte version only.
How to Make Vanilla Bean Syrup for Lattes
You don’t need to purchase vanilla syrup to make a truly delicious vanilla tea latte. In fact, making vanilla bean simple syrup at home is super easy and results in a cleaner, richer vanilla flavour than most store-bought options.
It is made by gently simmering sugar and water, then infusing the mixture with a split vanilla bean, vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract.
I’ve shared a full step-by-step tutorial on my blog that walks you through exactly how to make vanilla simple syrup at home, including storage tips. Once you try it, you’ll see why it’s worth skipping the store-bought bottles and keeping a small jar of homemade syrup in your fridge instead.
Vanilla Tea Latte Recipe
Ingredient measurements and full directions are in the printable recipe card below.
STEP 1: STEEP TEA
In a mug, steep black tea in freshly boiled water for 5 minutes. Cover the tea while it is steeping.
STEP 2: SWEETEN WITH VANILLA SYRUP
Strain loose tea leaves or remove tea bags. Add vanilla simple syrup and stir until well combined. Adjust the amount to taste.
STEP 3: FROTH MILK
Heat and froth milk of your choice. Add the milk froth to the mug and serve/enjoy immediately.
To Make It Iced:
In a serving glass with ice, add homemade vanilla syrup, steeped black tea and milk. Top the iced latte with whipped cream before serving or enjoying.
Tips & Tricks for the Best Vanilla Tea Latte
- Don’t oversteep the tea: Bitter tea will overpower the vanilla.
- Start with less syrup: You can always add more, but homemade syrup is often more flavourful.
- Experiment with tea bases: Try chai for a spiced vanilla latte or rooibos for a caffeine-free version.
- Pair it with treats: I love to enjoy this latte with Raspberry Earl Grey Muffins or Hojicha Cookies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a vanilla tea latte without caffeine?
Yes. Rooibos or decaffeinated black tea both work well and pair beautifully with vanilla.
Can I make this dairy-free?
Yes, you can. Oat milk and soy milk are great dairy-free options for vanilla tea lattes.
Is this similar to a London Fog?
A London Fog is made with Earl Grey tea which is a black tea blend. So it is similar, but it is missing the key flavour from a London Fog: bergamot. If you enjoy London Fogs you may enjoy a more simpler version like this Vanilla Tea Latte.
Vanilla Tea Latte
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons loose leaf black tea or 2 tea bags
- ½ cup water freshly boiled
- 1-2 tablespoons vanilla simple syrup
- ¼ cup milk
- ice and whipped cream for iced version only!
Instructions
- In a mug, steep black tea in freshly boiled water for 5 minutes. Cover the tea while it is steeping.
- Strain loose tea leaves or remove tea bags. Add vanilla simple syrup and stir until well combined. Adjust the amount to taste.
- Heat and froth milk of your choice. Add the milk froth to the mug and serve/enjoy immediately.