London Fog Camp Latte Mix: Earl Grey, Vanilla and Milk, Just Add Hot Water
Mix whole milk powder, sugar and vanilla bean seeds at home, then pack it with Earl Grey tea bags. At camp, boil water on a stove or fire, steep a tea bag in a mug for 4 minutes, and stir in 1/4 cup of the mix. Total time at camp is about 10 minutes.
A London Fog is Earl Grey tea with vanilla and steamed milk. At camp you don't need a steamer or a cooler. Dry milk powder and vanilla sugar do the work, and all you add is hot water.
You mix the base once at home, and it keeps for weeks in a jar. It's a good first cup on a cold morning and a good last one by the fire. It's light enough for the pack and tastes like a café drink.
London Fog Camp Latte Mix: Earl Grey, Vanilla and Milk, Just Add Hot Water
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Serves
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Heat
- Medium flame or a rolling boil over coals
- Pack weight
- 12 oz
- Campfire
- Camp stove
- Backpacking
- Cooler required
- One burner
- Low water
- One-pan cleanup
- Prep ahead
Ingredients
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Gear you'll need
- pot with lid or kettle
- camp stove or fire grate
- 4 insulated mugs
- wide-mouth jar with lid
- measuring cups
- long spoon
Steps
-
Make vanilla sugar
At home, put the sugar in a bowl. Add the scraped vanilla seeds and rub them in with your fingertips until the seeds are spread evenly. Tuck the empty pod in too if you like.
-
Mix the base
Stir in the milk powder and salt until the mix looks even. Pour it into a wide-mouth jar with a tight lid. Pack the tea bags in a zip bag beside it.
-
Boil the water
At camp, bring the water to a boil in a pot on a stove or over a grate on the fire. Take it off the heat and let it sit for about a minute.
-
Steep the tea
Put 1 tea bag in each mug and pour in 1 cup of hot water. Steep for 4 minutes, then squeeze out the bag and set it aside.
-
Stir in the mix
Add 1/4 cup of the mix to each mug. Stir hard with a spoon for 20 seconds, pressing out any lumps against the side of the mug.
-
Taste and serve
Sip it hot. Add another spoonful of mix for a creamier cup, or a splash of hot water if it's too sweet.
Trail Notes
The dry mix keeps for about 4 weeks in a sealed jar kept cool and dry. Shake it before each trip so the vanilla stays spread through the milk powder.
Pack a scoop that holds 1/4 cup so you can portion without a measuring cup. Keep the jar in a zip bag in case the lid loosens in your pack.
For dairy-free, use an equal amount of oat or coconut milk powder. Add a pinch of dried culinary lavender to the mix for a floral version.
Pack out the used tea bags with your trash. Strain leftover hot water and scatter it well away from camp, trails and water sources.
Round out your camp day
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DinnerBackpacking Chili Mac with Textured Soy Protein, Tomato Powder and CheddarMore one-burner camping meals →Planning a trip? Get the free 3-day meal plan →
Campers ask
Can I make a London Fog with just water at camp?
Yes. Whole milk powder gives a creamy, milky body once it's stirred into hot tea, so no fresh milk or cooler is needed.
Why does my milk powder clump in hot tea?
Powder clumps when it hits very hot water in one spot. Let the water rest a minute off the boil, add the mix a little at a time, and stir hard.
How long does homemade drink mix last?
This mix keeps about 4 weeks in a sealed jar stored cool and dry. Throw it out if it smells stale or has clumped from moisture.
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