Jun (drink) facts for kids

Jun, also called Xun, is a bubbly, fermented drink. It's a bit like kombucha, but it's made with green tea and honey instead of black tea and regular sugar. To make Jun, you mix green tea sweetened with honey with a special group of living things called a SCOBY. SCOBY stands for Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast. People often add fruits, spices, or other flavors to make Jun taste even better. Jun isn't as well-known as kombucha, so you might not find it in many stores. Because it's easy to make at home, many people who enjoy Jun brew it themselves. Some people believe Jun and other fermented drinks are good for your health, but scientists haven't fully proven these claims. However, green tea and honey, which are in Jun, are known to have some health benefits on their own. Even though Jun is similar to drinks like kombucha, water kefir, and kvass, it has its own unique qualities.

What is Jun?

Where did Jun come from?

You can think of Jun as a cousin to kombucha. Jun is mainly made from green tea and honey. Kombucha, on the other hand, uses black tea and regular sugar. Both drinks need a SCOBY to ferment. Jun usually tastes sweeter and costs more to make because honey is more expensive than sugar.

It's not clear exactly where Jun first came from. Some sellers in Western countries say it was made thousands of years ago by monks in Tibet and northern China. However, a food writer named Sandor Katz doubts this story. He thinks Jun is a newer drink that people linked to Tibet as a way to make it sound more interesting. He points out that green tea wasn't common in Tibet, and the word "Jun" isn't even Tibetan.

How are the ingredients different?

Green tea vs. Black tea

Both green tea and black tea are popular drinks around the world. People have long thought they were good for health, but more research is needed to fully support this. They look and taste different, but both have things called antioxidants and caffeine. Green tea has more types of antioxidants, which might help reduce the risk of heart disease. Black tea has more caffeine, which can help your brain work better.

Honey vs. Sugar

Honey and sugar are both common ways to sweeten food and drinks. They are both carbohydrates and contain glucose and fructose. These give you energy but can lead to weight gain if you eat too much. Sugar is half glucose and half fructose. Honey is different: it's about 30% glucose and 40% fructose. The rest of honey is water, pollen, and small amounts of vitamins and minerals. Honey also has more calories than sugar. One tablespoon of honey has about 64 calories, while one tablespoon of sugar has about 49 calories.

How to Make Jun

Making Jun usually takes about 5 to 7 days, which is faster than many other fermented drinks. You technically only need one step, but many people do two steps. The second step adds more flavor and makes the drink fizzy. To make Jun, you need a jar (glass or porcelain works best), a SCOBY, honey, green tea, and filtered water. The exact amounts depend on the recipe and how you like it.

First Fermentation Step

The first step is called primary fermentation. During this time, the tiny living things in the SCOBY eat the honey. This is what gives Jun its special flavor.

Here's how to do it:

• Steep green tea in hot water for up to 10 minutes.
• Let the tea cool down to room temperature.
• Add the honey and stir until it's completely dissolved.
• Put the SCOBY into the jar.
• Cover the jar and let it ferment.

The best temperature for Jun to ferment is between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (about 21-27 degrees Celsius). After five days, you should taste the Jun. If it's too sweet, let it ferment longer and taste it every day until it's just right. You can let it ferment for up to 21 days.

Second Fermentation Step

The second fermentation step is optional, but many people prefer it. It makes the Jun fizzy and adds more flavor. For this step, you take the plain Jun from the first fermentation.

Here's how to do it:

• Pour the Jun into an airtight bottle.
• Add fruits, more honey, spices, or any other flavors you like.
• Close the bottle tightly. This traps the carbon dioxide that's made, which creates fizz.
• Let it ferment for 1 to 3 days at room temperature.
• After that, open the bottle and put it in the refrigerator until you want to drink it.

The longer the second fermentation, the more fizzy and flavorful your Jun will be.

Jun Companies

In the United States, there are a couple of main companies that make Jun. Huney Jun is in Leavenworth, Washington. They make different flavors of Jun and sell it in local stores and on their website. Wild Tonic is in Arizona. They also brew Jun and sell it on bigger online stores like Amazon, Instacart, and Uber Eats. Many people also enjoy making Jun at home because there are lots of recipes and guides online.

Jun and Other Drinks

Jun vs. Kombucha

Jun and kombucha are very similar in how they are made and what people claim are their health benefits. The biggest difference is their main ingredients. Jun uses green tea and honey, while kombucha uses black tea and sugar. Because of these different ingredients, Jun is usually fizzier and less sour than kombucha, even though they taste similar.

Jun vs. Water Kefir

Water kefir, also called tibicos, is fermented using water kefir grains. These grains are like the SCOBY in Jun, being a mix of yeast and bacteria. Water kefir comes from Mexico. It's made with sweetened water, coconut water, or fruit juices, not tea. Like Jun, water kefir is often flavored after it's brewed. It is naturally sweeter than Jun.

Jun vs. Kvass

Kvass comes from Eastern Europe. It's made by fermenting bread, usually rye bread. Like Jun and water kefir, kvass is often flavored after it's made. Common flavors include raisins, tree sap, or caraway seeds. A popular type is beet kvass, which is sometimes chosen as a healthier or gluten-free option.