London Fog Tea Latte with Vanilla-Cardamom Simple Syrup & Thoughts on Supporting Local Makers

With the upcoming holiday season, I wanted to post a recipe that provides a little calm but also give you some food for thought before all the craziness kicks into full swing next week. First, here’s a recipe for an earl grey tea latte (also known as the London Fog). The typical London Fog is made with earl grey tea, vanilla, and steamed milk. I decided to add cardamom after drinking a lot of cardamom infused tea on our recent trip to Egypt and Jordan and loving the flavor it added. I had considered naming this the Bedouin Fog but considering there really isn’t fog in the desert, I didn’t think anyone would get it but me. Thus, the really long name of London Fog Tea Latte with Vanilla-Cardamom Simple Syrup.

However, let’s get back to talking about making tea.

For me, making a cup of tea is a form of therapy.  When I need to reset, I make a cup of tea. When I need to slow down, I make a cup of tea. When I need to sit and think, I make a cup of tea. There is something soothing about watching the curls of steam rising when I pour the hot water into the mug and seeing the tea slowly infuse into the water. Even the simple act of stirring in milk and sugar can be therapeutic. So, even though this recipe has the extra steps of making the vanilla-cardamom simple syrup and frothing the milk, I consider them to be part of the calming process. Sometimes, slower is better. This leads me into the second half of the post title – supporting local makers.

Since I started exploring food photography four years ago, I have met several local ceramic artists who produce beautiful pieces by hand. Every dish, bowl, mug, and vase is made one at a time – hand formed and thoughtfully shaped and glazed. It is a slow process but the results are worth it. I have gotten to know all these artists and they are not only very talented and passionate about their art but they are also some of the nicest people you could ever meet.

Bow Sparrow Studio

Below are pieces from Abbie Preston of Box Sparrow Studio. As you can see, I have bought a lot from her over the years. Some items live in my prop closet but several items get everyday use. Her color palette aligns with my own aesthetic so I end up using her ceramics a lot. You can buy her work on Etsy or meet her in person and buy from her directly at one of her pop-up shops. Check out her website or follow her on Instagram to get information about her pop-ups.

Estes Ceramics

The bowls and plates pictured on the left below are from Sierra Estes of Estes Ceramics. She also has an Etsy shop and sells at pop-ups. For some reason, I am drawn to the bowls that Sierra makes and I also love her dark glaze for my moody photos.

They Named Her John

The items pictured on the right are from Jessica Phillips of They Named Her John. I love the subtle boldness of her pieces. I don’t own a lot of her pieces but the ones I do own get a lot of use. She has the occasional pop-ups but I mostly buy her work at a local shop called Forth and Nomad.

If you’re looking for gift ideas this year, consider supporting a local maker in your area. Your gifts will be unique and lovingly made.

Note: I bought all the pieces pictured in the photos. I created this post to feature these artists and studios because I love the ceramics they produce and believe in supporting small local businesses.