How to Brew Jun

Mar 08, 2022

Did you know that approximately 70 million people are affected by digestive diseases? Diet plays a huge factor in some digestive problems, and adding in healthy gut bacteria, such as probiotics, can help mitigate some of the side effects.

Have you heard of Jun? This close relative of kombucha has started gaining traction with its simple recipes, plentiful health (including gut health) benefits, and delicious flavors.

Luckily, we have put together a complete guide on what Jun tea is, how it's different from kombucha, and how to brew it the right way. So, if you have an interest in brewing Jun tea, keep reading to learn more!

^{Before we start: This herbal information is just that, information. This blog post and I DO NOT INTEND to treat, cure, or diagnose any disease or illness. This is for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. Please consult a physician before using herbs medicinally. Grab all the deets on the Medical jargon here.}

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What Is Jun?

Jun tea, otherwise known as Jun kombucha, is fermented sweet tea. Typically, it uses green tea and honey as a sweetener, although some recipes may use a different tea type. The result is a sweet and crisp-tasting drink.

The subtle Jun tea flavors draw many people to it over kombucha, but are there any other benefits of drinking Jun tea over its closely related cousin?

^{Photo By Kayla Joy Creative}

Benefits of Jun Tea

Like kombucha, Jun tea has many health benefits. Both drinks have probiotics in them. The advantage of adding natural probiotics are:

Improved gut health
Decreased infection rates
Improved mental health
Reduced risk of heart disease
Improved liver health

Much of these health benefits are speculated since other factors play a role in liver, cardiac, gut, and mental illnesses. However, healthy gut bacteria (probiotics) are well known for helping your body maintain microorganisms.

Microorganisms help improve general health and reduce inflammation, which is why some depressive symptoms could be reduced by adding Jun tea into your diet.

Kombucha vs. Jun

The difference between kombucha and Jun isn't much, but it is enough that you can quickly notice a difference when drinking the two. The biggest difference-maker is that kombucha primarily uses black tea while Jun uses green. Kombucha typically adds cane sugar during the fermenting process, whereas Jun tea uses natural honey.

Some people claim that the flavor of Jun is brighter, crisper, and lighter than kombucha. It is also much easier to make since the honey helps speed up the fermentation process. Yet, the alcohol content (although minor) is generally higher in Jun because of the fermenting process.

One could argue that Jun tea fermentation is the healthier version of kombucha since it uses honey and works more cohesively with the SCOBY. Studies show that both sugars are relatively equal, yet honey may have a slight edge on providing some vitamins and minerals while alleviating allergies in specific individuals.

It is helpful to know Jun also doesn't require additional kitchen appliances and is much easier to make in the kitchen than kombucha.

What Is a SCOBY?

The SCOBY acronym stands for the symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast. It is one of the main Jun tea ingredients. A SCOBY comes into play during the fermenting and production process.

A Jun SCOBY is different from the one used to make kombucha. It is round and rubbery, similar to the SCOBY used in kombucha, but is slightly paler. It also has its own flavors and works cohesively with honey.

Some argue that a Jun SCOBY is derived from kombucha and that you can slowly "train" a kombucha SCOBY over time to make Jun. However, others think this simply isn't true and that a Jun SCOBY has its own origins. They believe you must use a Jun SCOBY for crisper and cleaner flavors.

Adding a Jun SCOBY into green tea helps it ferment, which is primarily why honey works best in this process. SCOBY thrives on the natural sugars in honey, breaking it down and converting it into alcohol and other components. The flavors of these drinks depend on how long the fermenting process takes and if other herbs are added.

At the end of this process, the SCOBY creates a fizzy or carbonated taste in kombucha and Jun tea.

Using an organic SCOBY ensures you have a high-quality product from a reputable source. A SCOBY also continues reproducing across successive batches of kombucha and Jun tea, but make sure you discard it if you start noticing mold or decay.

Photo By Kayla Joy Creative

Jun Brewing Supplies

You will need a few supplies and ingredients to start Jun tea fermentation. Here are some essential Jun tea ingredients for your first batch:

A Jun SCOBY
Organic honey
Organic green tea (Like our Mossy Rock Blend)
Filtered water

After acquiring the ingredients, make sure you have a few simple supplies such as a brewing jar, pH strips, and temperature strips. The pH strips help give you an idea if you are on the right track since a lower pH value means the fermentation process is working.

Jun Brewing Basics: A Tasty Recipe

Find Your Tea Inspiration

Jun tea is quickly becoming a more popular (and healthier) version of kombucha. Better yet, it is easier to make in your home, and you can enjoy your drink much more quickly. If you would love to learn more about fermenting JUN make sure to take our free kombucha brewing workshop here. The only difference in the process is the type of tea and the type of sweetener so we think you will benefit from all of these tips.

I'd love to know, what fermenting have you done in the past? Kombucha? Kefir (milk or water kefir), cheese, sauerkraut, kimchi, nato, sourdough bread, or another kind? Let me know in the comments below. I can't wait to hear what you have been making!