How to Make an Earl Grey Tea Latte

Ever wonder how to make an Earl Grey tea latte at home so you don't have to drive to the nearest Starbucks or spend about $5 every time you get a craving? There's a small cost and probably a trip to the store involved before you make the first latte, but for all the subsequent tea lattes, the cost is minimal—and you don't even have to change out of your pajama pants to get them.

Making my own Earl Grey tea latte (or any tea latte, for that matter) had never really occurred to me even though I have had a handheld milk frother for a while; I bought it with the intention of making my own coffee drinks, but rarely ever used it. We've had a few gloomy days recently, and on one of those days, I had an irresistible craving for a creamy Earl Grey tea latte with plenty of foam. I drove to the coffee shop, ordered one, and they gave me my drink. I didn't check it because I had another errand to get to, a grumpy kid in the car with me, and I knew the tea needed a few minutes to steep anyway. I took my first sip once I was well on my way--plain tea, which I didn't want.

By the time my second errand was done and I made it back home, the tea was a little stronger than I'd normally like it, but still hot, so I whipped up my own latte and just poured some of it in. I bought a box of Earl Grey tea for about the price of one latte on my next grocery store trip and haven't looked back since.

What you need:

• 1 tea bag of Earl Grey tea
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup of the milk of your choice
• 1 Tbsp vanilla syrup (in a pinch, you can substitute an equal parts water and sugar, then add a few drops of vanilla extract)
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup boiling water (this should equal the amount of milk you used)

You'll also need a handheld milk frother, which you can get at Target or Amazon for around $12 to $20, a small mug, and a large mug. When choosing your mug, be sure to take into account not just the amount of liquid you'll be pouring in, but the extra space the foam will require. I typically use a 16 oz mug.

Make the tea in the small mug according to the instructions on the package, but cut the amount of water down to about 1/2 to 3/4 cup so the tea will be a little stronger than it would be if you were drinking it plain. Be sure to cover the mug with a saucer to hold the heat in as the tea steeps.

While the tea steeps, heat the milk and vanilla syrup on the stove or in the microwave until it's hot, but not boiling (I think it tastes better when I heat it on the stove for some reason). Pour the milk into a large mug and use the handheld milk frother for about 30-45 seconds to whip up the amount of foam you'd like. Make sure you have the end of the frother below the surface of the milk before you turn it on so it won't splatter. By the time you're done with the milk, the tea should be almost done steeping; once it's done, pour it through the center of the foam.