Jun Tea (Updated)

Jun Tea Updated

To find the original post click here!

I've gotten a lot of questions about Jun Tea since I posted the original blog post last year! Lots of people are interested in learning more about fermented probiotic drinks such as Jun and Kombucha and I've heard lots of great testimonies about both! Most people, however, don't know how to get started! Well, it's as simple as finding someone with a mother scobe! I was first introduced to Kombucha by my mother and sister-in-law and though good, I found Jun to be much more tasty for me personally. 

I was given a Jun scobe by a good friend of mine, but I've had a hard time finding reputable sellers for them on the internet. I was able to find some available on Amazon as well as kombuchacamp.com. We are super excited that we now have our Jun Tea scobes and starter kits available in our Etsy shop!

Ruby Red

I've been asked to give directions for a simple, 1/2 gallon batch to start beginners off with. So here goes!

You'll need:
1 Jun Scobe (included in our kits)
3/4 cups starter tea (included in our kits)
1 Tbsp Organic Green tea (included in our kits)
3/4 cups honey (you can use raw or natural but NO honey bear, fake stuff!)
2 Tbsp flavored tea (optional)

In a sanitized 1/2 gallon jar (or pitcher) add your loose leaf green tea and fill with hot (but not boiling) water. The reason you don't want to use boiling water is because green tea is a lot more fragile and delicate than black. Using boiling water will damage the antioxidant properties of the tea. 
Place lid on jar and allow to steep for up to 20 minutes. 
Strain your tea into another 1/2 gallon jar and add your honey. It's best to ferment your Jun in glass instead of plastic so that it doesn't leach from the properties of the plastic, thus damaging your scobe and creating a terrible aftertaste (YUCK!). 

Wait until your tea has COMPLETELY cooled before adding your scobe and starter. This is very important! If your tea is too hot it will KILL your mother scobe! 

Once you've added your scobe and starter tea, place a mesh cloth over the top of your jar and secure it with a rubber band. Let it rest on your counter top for 3-5 days. The longer you allow it to sit during the first ferment, the more vinegar-y tasting it will become. We typically like day 4!

After your first ferment, it's time to add your flavor! We love to experiment with all different kinds of flavors from fruity to tropical to subtle to herby! We would love to hear of any new and exciting flavors you have tried!

Boil about 8 ounces of water and pour over your flavored tea and allow to steep until cooled. 

Remove your scobe and 3/4 - 1 cup of starter to reserve for your next batch of Jun, and place in a glass container with a mesh cloth secured over the top. 

When your flavored tea has cooled, add it to your 1/2 gallon jar of fermented Jun tea. You can either leave it in the jar (with the lid firmly secured) to ferment for the 2nd time, or you can bottle it for a fizzy, carbonated healthy soda replacement (our favorite!). You can purchase bottles and caps from Amazon or save old soda and beer bottles. ALWAYS sanitize all containers before using so you can be sure your Jun is not contaminated!

Leave your Jun to ferment for the 2nd time for at least 5 days. Remember the longer you let them ferment this time, the fizzier they will be! We like to let them sit anywhere from 5-10 days!

CAUTION: It is best to keep your Jun fermenting at room temperature. Any warmer than 80° (and for long periods of time) causes the carbonated pressure build up in your jars or bottles to become VERY dangerous! (We know this from experience and have read many stories online as well!). 

When it's done, pop open a bottle and enjoy! We love to pour our finished Jun over ice for a refreshing, fizzy drink that's great anytime!

We hope you enjoy the amazing benefits of naturally fermented probiotics and feel free to contact us with any questions or comments you may have!