Shanghai Fog (Hot & Iced)

This recipe for a Shanghai Fog is a delicious and soothing drink that combines the floral notes of jasmine tea with the creamy richness of frothed milk and a touch of sweet vanilla syrup. It can be enjoyed warm or iced.

What is a Shanghai Fog?

Shanghai Fog is a tea-based drink, similar to a London Fog tea latte, which is an earl grey tea with steamed milk and vanilla syrup.

A Shanghai Fog uses floral jasmine tea as its base, paired with frothed milk and vanilla syrup, making it similar to a jasmine milk tea (which has no addition of vanilla).

There are variations of Shanghai Fog which can include additions of white chocolate, honey or peppermint.

Other fog variations

Tokyo Fog: matcha green tea, milk and vanilla syrup - essentially a matcha tea latte with vanilla syrup

Dublin Fog: Irish breakfast tea with milk and vanilla syrup

Bangalore Fog: Masala chai with milk and vanilla syrup (chai tea latte with vanilla)

Oregon Fog: peppermint tea with chocolate syrup and cream

New York Fog: apple cinnamon herbal tea with caramel and cream 

Ingredients you'll need

For hot:

• jasmine tea: you can use tea bags, loose leaf, or tea powder if you have that on hand
• hot water: about 85 degrees C
• milk of your choice: steamed/frothed; you can use any milk you like, including non-dairy alternatives such as soy or oat milk
• vanilla syrup: to your taste; vanilla syrup is basically simple syrup (sugar and water) flavored with vanilla; it is not the same as vanilla extract 
• vanilla extract: optional, just to enhance that vanilla flavor

For iced:

• brew the tea as above and cool slightly, or use cold brew jasmine tea
• ice cubes

How to make a Shanghai fog

Hot:

Pull 2 shots of jasmine tea (using tea espresso method)

OR:

Add jasmine green tea bag or looseleaf tea into a heatproof mug.

Pour hot water over the tea and let it steep for a few minutes.

Stir vanilla syrup into the tea. Add vanilla extract, if using.

Steam or warm milk in a separate mug or vessel and lightly froth with an electric frother.

Pour the frothed milk over the tea and serve immediately.

Iced:

Steep jasmine green tea and let it cool slightly.

Stir vanilla syrup and vanilla extract into the tea.

Fill a tall glass with ice cubes and pour in milk.

Pour the jasmine green tea over the milk.

Add whipped cream, if desired.

Give it a stir, stick in a straw and enjoy immediately.

Substitutions

Add in a little chopped white chocolate to the warmed milk, which gives the Shanghai Fog a sweet richness.

If using white chocolate, you may want to decrease or omit the vanilla syrup and use vanilla extract instead.

Other jasmine tea recipes you may like