Jun Tea Vs. Kombucha
Can Honey Be Used For Kombucha?
Jun kombucha is a bit different than the regular kombucha you can buy in the store or make at home. I actually came across my very first Jun kombucha scoby on a search to offer something different to my customers and fans of kombucha in Oklahoma. I had never heard of the term "Jun" before so I thought I was on to something new and revolutionary. But little did I know the method of brewing kombucha with green tea and honey has been around just as long as it's brethren of black tea and sugar.
It wasn't until after a random conversation I had with a friend from California who emigrated here from China that it hit me that Jun kombucha has a more cult-like following in the kombucha community, especially here in Oklahoma. My friend mentioned her mother had actually been making it for her every since she was a child and continued to brew it to this day.
As someone who really enjoys brewing kombucha and sells a lot of it in Tulsa and Oklahoma city, the more I began to experiment brewing this fermented and probiotic drink, the more I realized it was actually easier (and tastier) to brew than the normal kombucha of tea and sugar. Jared's Probiotics is the only commercial Jun kombucha brewer in the state, so I'm eager to discuss how to brew and get you making this "new" style of kombucha that uses green tea and nectar.
It wasn't until after a random conversation I had with a friend from California who emigrated here from China that it hit me that Jun kombucha has a more cult-like following in the kombucha community, especially here in Oklahoma. My friend mentioned her mother had actually been making it for her every since she was a child and continued to brew it to this day.
As someone who really enjoys brewing kombucha and sells a lot of it in Tulsa and Oklahoma city, the more I began to experiment brewing this fermented and probiotic drink, the more I realized it was actually easier (and tastier) to brew than the normal kombucha of tea and sugar. Jared's Probiotics is the only commercial Jun kombucha brewer in the state, so I'm eager to discuss how to brew and get you making this "new" style of kombucha that uses green tea and nectar.
Where To Find Jun Culture And Starter?
Jun kombucha is generally thought to have been discovered in western Tibet. Of course, this isn't exactly for sure because the idea of where it originated has been shrouded in mystery, with layers of gossip and secrets built upon it's brewing methods.
There are some people who brew Jun that says there is evidence going back to 600 B.C. in Northeast China indicating it was brewed. According to legend, it was offered as a delicacy to people who spent their leisure time at places we would consider "spas" nowadays. These people would travel hundred of miles to taste this kombucha that was thought to be able to provide a more powerful energy (chi) into their bodies. Travelers consumed this kombucha with the belief that it could help them achieve it. But as has been the case and shroud of mystery surrounding Jun passed down over the centuries, very little documented cases of these types of places actually exist.
The underground cultures (pardon the pun) and Jun societies have been somewhat elusive over the years no doubt, but it's contribution to kombucha brewing has been valuable nonetheless. Although known to exist, these first Jun societies were very secretive in how they shared the news and publicity of the magic elixir. It was known that there was a huge black market for these fermented honey scobys and that is to be part of the reason for the secrecy. But with evidence from travel logs showing merchants traveled across thousands of miles of seas to obtain, steal, and ultimately sell them, it's easy to see why there hasn't been much written about this style of kombucha.
But regardless of its history or cloak-and-dagger style of brewing, we are happy it found it's way to Oklahoma, and to say that we love this lighter and faster fermented cousin of traditional kombucha would be putting it mildly. Let's take a look at some of the differences between the two.
There are some people who brew Jun that says there is evidence going back to 600 B.C. in Northeast China indicating it was brewed. According to legend, it was offered as a delicacy to people who spent their leisure time at places we would consider "spas" nowadays. These people would travel hundred of miles to taste this kombucha that was thought to be able to provide a more powerful energy (chi) into their bodies. Travelers consumed this kombucha with the belief that it could help them achieve it. But as has been the case and shroud of mystery surrounding Jun passed down over the centuries, very little documented cases of these types of places actually exist.
The underground cultures (pardon the pun) and Jun societies have been somewhat elusive over the years no doubt, but it's contribution to kombucha brewing has been valuable nonetheless. Although known to exist, these first Jun societies were very secretive in how they shared the news and publicity of the magic elixir. It was known that there was a huge black market for these fermented honey scobys and that is to be part of the reason for the secrecy. But with evidence from travel logs showing merchants traveled across thousands of miles of seas to obtain, steal, and ultimately sell them, it's easy to see why there hasn't been much written about this style of kombucha.
But regardless of its history or cloak-and-dagger style of brewing, we are happy it found it's way to Oklahoma, and to say that we love this lighter and faster fermented cousin of traditional kombucha would be putting it mildly. Let's take a look at some of the differences between the two.
Can Honey Be Used For Kombucha?
What are the differences between traditional kombucha and Jun kombucha? Jun kombucha tea uses less tea and is a bit less tart and vinegary than the kombucha that uses black tea and sugar. We've found that other Oklahoma kombucha brewers use about 4-5 teaspoons of dark tea and 1-1.5 cups of sugar per gallon made of kombucha, whereas a gallon of Jared's Kombucha uses about 3 teaspoons of green tea and about 1/2 cup of honey. By using raw and unprocessed honey, the Jun tea would be free of any potential or harmful side effects one might have from consuming white sugar and would be a good alternative to those on the GAPS Diet or a those that have leaky gut but are interested in drinking a probiotic drink.
If you are short on time or are in a hurry to drink your own homebrew of kombucha, preparation time and brew times are shorter for Jun kombucha tea. The green tea used to make Jun only needs a few minutes to steep while regular kombucha in many instances requires upwards of 10 minutes. This doesn't sound like a lot, but when you are brewing in larger quantities like what we do on a commercial scale at Jared's Probiotics, the time saved can add up. Add to it that brewing time for the fermentation of Jun is additionally shorter 6-7 days versus upwards of 10-14 days for kombucha. This means there is a lower caffeine content (if any is left after fermentation). Additionally, if you choose to go organic with the green tea, there will be a lower potential fluoride content and less contaminants.
For those people who don't have the capabilities to maintain an ideal brewing temperature all year round, Jun tea can be brewed at a bit cooler temperature. Through research, we have found the perfect fermenting temperature for Jun tea is between 68-77 F (20-25 C). For kombucha, the temperature extend for ideal fermenting is 78-85 F (25.5-29 C). This doesn't sound like much, but if you have a hard time regulating the temperature of your home, Jun tea may bode better for you than traditional kombucha.
With all the benefits mentioned, I have discovered one drawback. Jun is a bit more costly to make when compared to kombucha. But even though it might be more expensive (because of using honey), it is still far less expensive than purchasing bottled kombucha from the store.
I can brew a batch of sugar and black tea kombucha for around 25 pennies for every quart, the cost of a quart of home blended Jun tea is about $2.50. That's 10 times the amount! So, why the increase in cost? We've found that it's because of the higher cost of choosing honey for culturing when compared to using the regular sugar used to make traditional kombucha.
For those people who don't have the capabilities to maintain an ideal brewing temperature all year round, Jun tea can be brewed at a bit cooler temperature. Through research, we have found the perfect fermenting temperature for Jun tea is between 68-77 F (20-25 C). For kombucha, the temperature extend for ideal fermenting is 78-85 F (25.5-29 C). This doesn't sound like much, but if you have a hard time regulating the temperature of your home, Jun tea may bode better for you than traditional kombucha.
With all the benefits mentioned, I have discovered one drawback. Jun is a bit more costly to make when compared to kombucha. But even though it might be more expensive (because of using honey), it is still far less expensive than purchasing bottled kombucha from the store.
I can brew a batch of sugar and black tea kombucha for around 25 pennies for every quart, the cost of a quart of home blended Jun tea is about $2.50. That's 10 times the amount! So, why the increase in cost? We've found that it's because of the higher cost of choosing honey for culturing when compared to using the regular sugar used to make traditional kombucha.
Can You Drink Too Much Jun Kombucha?
Booze alert. If not brewed properly, Jun tea can be a bit more alcoholic than kombucha. With shorter ferment times, Jun tea can be more alcoholic (around 2%) if not monitored properly, with kombucha checking in at .5% for a regular cluster. With the potential for higher liquor content, if you decide to make it at home, it is important to be a bit more selective when giving it to youngsters. Additionally, if you are pregnant and/or breastfeeding, it is important to choose a high quality Jun or test your batches for alcohol content using a hydrometer. Then again, Kombucha in general has been one of those drinks with centuries of families giving their youngsters small amounts as early as around age 2. From my own personal experience, my children didn't start drinking kombucha until around 10.
"If you are new to tasting kombucha, with a less tart taste, Jun kombucha is an excellent introduction to fermented beverages."
If you have never made kombucha before , I normally suggest people begin with the sugar and black tea kombucha that is the most common. It's less costly, and if you make one or two bad batches, it won't cost you as much out of your pocketbook. In addition, with the amount of resources available on the web today, you can more readily find troubleshooting information on traditional kombucha compared to the more specialized versions of Jun kombucha.
However, if you are a skilled home brewer or can devote more focus and attention on the brew on a daily basis, then I would certainly suggest moving over to Jun tea, or what has been called "the champagne of kombucha." Who knows? You may wind up like me, obsessed with the flavor and more interested in a milder (i.e. less vinegary) style of kombucha.
However, if you are a skilled home brewer or can devote more focus and attention on the brew on a daily basis, then I would certainly suggest moving over to Jun tea, or what has been called "the champagne of kombucha." Who knows? You may wind up like me, obsessed with the flavor and more interested in a milder (i.e. less vinegary) style of kombucha.
How To Make Kombucha Drink?
Jun kombucha isn't too difficult to make; and with the exception of the SCOBY and starter tea, a large portion of the things required can be accumulated at many health stores or for sure when ordering online. Although you can make a socby mother from scratch, I've found that most new brewers would best be served by purchasing a kombucha starter pack to start the procedure that you can find by googling it online.
Preparing to set up your own custom made kombucha? Here are a couple of the most common pieces of kombucha fermenting supplies that you would need:
The biggest issue with making your own kombucha is that you won't have the two most components of successful brewing: the SCOBY and the starter tea. However, you can also find do-it-yourself videos online on how to make your own kombucha SCOBY., which is an acronym for "Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast".
Preparing to set up your own custom made kombucha? Here are a couple of the most common pieces of kombucha fermenting supplies that you would need:
- One-Gallon Glass Jar
- Natural Tea, Black (and Optional Green)
- Unprocessed Cane Sugar
- 100% Cotton Tea Bags
- 100% Cotton Jar Cover
- pH Testing Strips
The biggest issue with making your own kombucha is that you won't have the two most components of successful brewing: the SCOBY and the starter tea. However, you can also find do-it-yourself videos online on how to make your own kombucha SCOBY., which is an acronym for "Symbiotic Culture Of Bacteria and Yeast".
How To Make Fermented Drinks Cheaply
In the event that you've made it this far, you probably are one who regularly consumes kombucha. More than likely you probably have considered making it or have already done it yourself. If this is true, then you certainly know how costly it is to buy a store-bought bottle of kombucha on a daily basis. I understand that jetting off to the store and buying kombucha is not cheap. The normal cost for a jug can extend up to $3 to $4 or more, depending upon the ingredients and the accessibility to your area.
But, for many, kombucha is a perfect contrast to the everyday consumption of Starbucks; so when you compare it to the $5 cold brew, it's relatively cheaper. But the great thing about kombucha is that anybody can make scrumptious, amazing, invigorating at home with minimal effort and minimal cost when compared to buying it at the store. It's simple and can turn out cheaper when making your own. You don't need a whole lot of knowledge or experience to begin brewing, and if you end up making it yourself, in many instances, can be brewed for pennies on the dollar.
But, for many, kombucha is a perfect contrast to the everyday consumption of Starbucks; so when you compare it to the $5 cold brew, it's relatively cheaper. But the great thing about kombucha is that anybody can make scrumptious, amazing, invigorating at home with minimal effort and minimal cost when compared to buying it at the store. It's simple and can turn out cheaper when making your own. You don't need a whole lot of knowledge or experience to begin brewing, and if you end up making it yourself, in many instances, can be brewed for pennies on the dollar.
Surprisingly to me, there are not that numerous of persons who brew Jun tea yet, so it is probably not readily accessible where you are. Perhaps you can find someone willing to give you a starter culture and starter liquid. The likelihood of this happening becomes greater the more publicity Jun receives. So until that happens, I would propose that you purchase a true Jun culture and starter from a reputable source. Or if you have the capabilities of buying my Jun ProPops, might I suggest you taste mine. I guarantee you'll be hooked.
If you've read this far, I'd love to have you hit the "like" button below. Or better yet, share this with your circle of friends. I bet they would benefit from knowing about how fermentation and making kombucha is the secret to being in ideal gut health. Want to know what the health benefits of kombucha are (or aren't)?
- Jared's ProBiotics ›
- About kombucha ›
- Probiotic jun green tea kombucha
