Jun Tea: A Great Alternative To Kombucha
The world of fermented drinks is intriguing to more and more people, attracted to beverages with ancient origins and full of beneficial effects for our bodies. prominent among them is jun tea, also known as the “champagne of kombucha” given the ingredients used that differentiate it from the famous scoby-fermented drink. in this article we will find out how to prepare jun tea at home and what are the main differences with kombucha.
What Is Jun Tea
Jun tea, or simply jun, is a green tea drink fermented with honey with many properties and rich in helpful bacteria, yeasts and organic acids to restore “friendly bacteria” in the gut that are of great help to the digestive system. It is a probiotic drink very similar to kombucha, a drink fermented with scoby, so much so that it is considered by many as the “champagne of kombucha” due to its great quality ingredients and mild taste.
Origins
The origins of jun tea are shrouded in mystery, as are those of so many other fermented foods and drinks, from kvass to kimchi. Many claim that it originated in a part of asia, while others are convinced that its origin lies with himalayan monks, who used it for more than 1,000 years, believing it to be a blessed beverage and to serve as a spiritual elixir. Establishing what the origins of the honey-fermented drink are with certainty is therefore not possible given the paucity of information and the many legends surrounding it.
Properties And Benefits Of Jun Tea
Jun tea possesses numerous properties and benefits that put it in common with the best-known fermented beverage prepared with scoby, kombucha. The qualities of the honey-fermented beverage threaten to “steal” the title of elixir of life from the most famous of asian origins. Jun is a drink rich in probiotics and vitamin b, and among its benefits we can count:
- Improves digestion and stimulates metabolism;
- Purifying and detoxifying properties;
- Strengthens the immune system;
- Relieves joint pain.
Differences With Kombucha
Jun tea has always been compared to kombucha, so much so that it has been called the “champagne of kombucha,” because of the elements they have in common, such as some of the beneficial properties and a similar preparation process. But what are the differences between jun tea and kombucha? Contrary to what one might think, the differentiating elements are several, ranging from the ingredients used in the preparation of jun to the fermentation time. In this section we want to focus attention on the main elements that distinguish the two fermented beverages.
Ingredients
The first differentiator between jun tea and kombucha concerns the ingredients used in the preparation and fermentation of the two beverages. While sugar is used in kombucha as the bacteria scoby nutrient and a black tea base, honey and green tea are used in jun. The use of honey as a nutrient is why jun tea is also called the champagne of kombucha, given its high cost compared to refined sugar.
Taste
The taste of the two fermented beverages is another element of difference and reflects the ingredients used in their respective preparations. While kombucha tends to have sour notes, jun has significantly less of them and at the same time possesses floral notes from the use of honey. In addition, there are many who argue that jun tea tends to taste lighter and crisper than kombucha.
Alcohol Content
As we know, kombucha possesses almost no alcohol content, unless you proceed with the preparation of hard kombucha. In contrast, jun possesses some alcohol content, probably due to the culture of the beverage and the honey used as a nutrient.
Timing Of Fermentation
A final element that helps us distinguish the two beverages with their many benefits concerns the time required for fermentation. kombucha needs a longer time frame for fermentation, while jun requires only half the time.
Where to find it?
If reading this article has made you want to try jun tea, unfortunately we must inform you that it is not so easy to find it online. While it is certainly easier to find online stores where you can buy kombucha, it is not as easy to find an online store where you can buy jun. Reason why we decided to show you the recipe and preparation method so that you can make it at home and enjoy it when you feel like it.
Jun Tea: Preparation
The preparation of jun is simple and you can start by buying, in one of several specialized stores, the jun culture, that is, the mushroom on which this fermented drink is based. As mentioned earlier many people search online for the recipe for the preparation of jun given the great difficulty in finding the ready-made honey fermented drink. So let’s not waste any more time and proceed with the recipe!
Recipe
The ingredients needed for the jun recipe are few and easy to find. you will need:
- Water;
- Honey;
- Green tea;
- Jun crop.
Having gathered the necessary ingredients let’s proceed with the preparation. below we will list all the steps necessary for making jun at home. let’s get started.
- Let’s start by bringing 1 liter of water to a boil;
- Pour into a large pot, or pitcher, 7 grams of green tea;
- Once the necessary temperature is reached, pour the water inside the pitcher and let it steep for about 2 to 3 minutes;
- Strain the contents, add 2 tablespoons of honey and stir;
- Allow the liquid to cool to room temperature, which is ideal for jun fermentation;
- Pour the jun culture inside the container;
- Allow it to ferment for three days at room temperature;
- After the necessary time has elapsed, the jun should smell and taste delicately sweet and sour;
- You can reuse the jun’s mother culture by removing the starter and half a cup of liquid, and storing it in a second container;
- Allow the jun to ferment a second time to achieve the drink’s typical fizz;
- We recommend storing the ready jun in the refrigerator, and flavoring it as you like.
Second Fermentation
As mentioned earlier, in the process of making jun, there is a second fermentation to make the fermented beverage fizzy. This is a process common to the other beverage with many benefits for our health. In fact, you will find a blog article of ours about the second fermentation of kombucha and how best to perform it. Returning to our “champagne of kombucha,” in some cases second fermentation is used to flavor, through the use of spices and herbs, jun tea.
Use Of Scoby Starter For Brewing
There are many people who ask whether it is possible to use scoby starter for the preparation of jun tea. actually, there is no clear-cut answer. in such cases it is good to remember that scoby, as well as jun culture, are microorganisms of living beings and as such their storage and feeding follows special rules so that these do not die. A scoby, accustomed to being fed black tea and sugar, will have great difficulty adapting to the new diet, running a high risk of mortality. In conclusion, using scoby starter is possible, but it requires much experience and care in feeding.