How To Make Jun Tea At Home

Fermented beverages are growing popular these days and one such drink is Jun tea. Most people call it honey-sweetened kombucha green tea – a beverage packed with nutrients and health benefits.

Jun tea has mysterious origins as some claim it can be traced back to east Asia, while some claim it’s simply a branch of kombucha that originated in Russia. Some say it originated in the Himalayas where monks who roamed Tibet were the first to brew Jun tea. But there isn’t much evidence to support the theory.

Jun tea is fermented sweet green tea. As opposed to kombucha, Jun is made by using green tea instead of black tea. It’s very sweet in taste, with a light flavor and aroma. It’s also known as the “champaign of kombucha.”

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What is the difference between Jun and Kombucha

Jun and Kombucha are quite similar as both are fermented teas. However, the primary difference between them is that kombucha is generally made from black tea and white sugar. Jun tea on the other hand uses green tea with raw honey.

When it comes to taste, kombucha has a strong vinegar-like taste, and Jun is less acidic with a lighter taste. Due to the difference in the sugar type used, Jun has a higher alcohol content as compared to kombucha.

Jun takes less time to ferment, almost half the time taken by kombucha. You can follow the recipe below and make Jun tea at home. It can stored in the refrigerator for several weeks.

How to Make Jun Tea at Home

Here are the ingredients required and step-by-step instructions for brewing Jun tea:

⏱ Prep Time: 10 minutes | 🔥 Resting Time: 4-7 days | 🍽 Serving: 10

Ingredients

2 green tea bags or 2 tbsp of green tea
8 cups water
1/2 cup honey
1 kombucha SCOBY
1/2 cup Jun kombucha

Instructions

Boil water and add green tea.
Steep it for 3-5 minutes.
Remove the tea bags and let the tea it cool.
Once the tea is cooled, add honey and stir until completely dissolved.
Pour the tea into a container or a jar.
Add SCOBY and jun kombucha.
Secure the container with a light cloth or lid that is not air-tight.
Allow the culture to develop for 4-7 days in a dark room.
On day 4, taste the mixture for acidity, and sweetness. If it’s to your taste, your jun kombucha tea is ready!

Jun Tea Brewing Tips

To get a good taste, use good quality green tea leaves, or tea bags. I use Choice Organics Jasmine Green Tea.
Use raw honey for tea as it allows the bacteria to be cultured properly. Pasteurized honey can damage SCOBY if there is no proper culture.
Make sure your tea and honey mixture is cool before adding SCOBY, as the warm liquid can risk damaging the culture.
Unlike Kombucha, you don’t need an air-tight jar as Jun is an open-air ferment. So, make sure to cover the jar with a breathable lid or a cheesecloth.
If you want more flavor in your tea, you can add the fruit juice or herbs of your choice to the mixture and continue to culture.

What are the benefits of Jun Tea?

Jun, like Kombucha, is rich in probiotics that help nourish gut-friendly bacteria resulting in a better digestive system. The centuries-old tea has detoxifying and energizing effects.