Some people call it kombucha 2.0, some call it champagne of kombucha; some people love it as a healthier alternative to kombucha, some think it is sweeter. But what is this jun that people are talking about?
Jun, or Xun, or Joon, however you pronounce it, this health drink known for its detoxifying and energizing properties is chock-full of bacteria, yeasts, and organic acids. Though similar to kombucha in the way it is made, jun differs in ingredients, fermentation time, and taste.
Jun is a fermented drink made with green tea and honey, while kombucha is made with black tea and cane sugar. Originating from Asia, jun (pronounced joon) ferments quicker than kombucha and has a little sweeter aftertaste. Mature kombucha may have strong vinegar aftertaste whereas jun tends to be little less acidic, lighter due to the ingredients and micro-organisms. Some consider jun a prebiotic, which means that it feeds the bacteria that live in our gut. Though not as popular as kombucha in the west, its health benefits are slowly gaining it new fans.
Jun's two main ingredients - honey and green tea - are what make it a gut health elixir.
- The two main molecules in honey - flavonoids and polyphenols - are antioxidants, which help protect the human body against harmful compounds. Honey also has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-diabetic properties.
- Green tea is touted for its anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, and antiviral effects. It also contains caffeine, which is connected to increased energy levels but jun can also be made with decaffeinated green tea. Furthermore, green tea has high levels of both theanine and amino acids, which help decrease blood pressure and improve brain and nerve function.
With benefits like that, it seems like an obvious choice for a healthy substitute for soda or juice. So, should one buy kombucha or jun? Honey is an expensive ingredient, which means that jun is an expensive product to buy/produce. Pasteurized honey would be cheaper alternative to raw/local honey, but it may not contain all the healthy acids and vitamins found in raw honey.
Booch makes both kombucha and jun with the freshest ingredients sourced from local farmers and beekeepers and a carefully created recipe filled with special health-promoting components.
Whether you drink jun or kombucha or both or any other prebiotic/probiotic drink, ensure that you eat a good diet that introduces good bacteria into your gut biome for a happier healthier you!