Kudos to Hannah Crum for two new AI-generated informative videos promoting the home brewing of kombucha and Jun, “the champagne of kombucha”.

These companion videos are brief (6-minute) animations that pack a lot of knowledge, supplied by Hannah, the author of The Big Book of Kombucha and owner of Kombucha Kamp, a source for all things kombucha. Indeed, my own homebrewing journey began over 15 years ago when I purchased my first starter and SCOBY from Kombucha Kamp — the descendants are happily fermenting away, many thousands of gallons of delicious homebrew later.

Kombucha Is Just the Beginning

In this brief, clearly narrated video, Hannah details the history, science, and production techniques involved.

She situates kombucha within a living process of fermentation, and a microbial world that is ancient, generous, and wise, and that reclaims our health (and our pocketbook!) from corporate control.

We became passive buyers of functional beverages, completely detached from the living processes that create them. But stepping back into that role or creator doesn’t require a laboratory or a degree in microbiology. You don’t have to start with complex or finicky recipes to revive this lost skill. You only need a single, reliable starting point. That is exactly what makes kombucha so uniquely valuable. It provides a highly forgiving, visually clean, and incredibly safe environment. It is the perfect teacher to help you overcome hesitation and learn to read the signs of healthy fermentation.

Jun Tea, the Champagne of Kombucha

The second video in the series promotes jun — the less common, lighter, and exquisite version of a fermented tea.

The companion video highlights the production of Jun, made with organic honey, green tea, and a dedicated SCOBY. It opens with a comparison of the costs of store-bought beverages and the savings achieved through home brewing. This was precisely the reason I looked into making my own when I realized my daily bottle of ‘booch was costing me well over $100 a month, and a one-time investment in the starter and brewing vessel from Kombucha Kamp would set me up for life. I’ve saved literally tens of thousands of dollars, over the last 15 years, by brewing my own.

Picking up a bottle every day at the grocery store creates a massive financial leak in your budget. This chart shows the real financial breakdown. At $3 to $7 a bottle, the daily commercial habit easily exceeds $100 a month. Compare that to brewing at home, where your ongoing cost drops to pennies per glass.

Highlighting the specifics of Jun vs. kombucha production, the video outlines the need for premium ingredients, a custom Jun-friendly SCOBY, and environmental awareness.

Jun relies on two specific ingredients, green tea and raw honey. This distinguishes it from the traditional kombucha, which uses black tea and refined cane sugar. Utilizing raw honey and green tea elevates the process from a basic wellness routine into an artisanal craft that prioritizes premium, nutrient-dense inputs.

Kombucha Kamp

Choosing Kombucha Kamp plugs you directly into a global network of knowledge. With access to proven recipes, comprehensive guides, and a dedicated support system, you are never left to figure it out alone.

NotebookLM

On a final note, I was impressed that Hannah produced these videos with NotebookLM (as shown in the watermark on the lower right corner of each frame). I began experimenting with this generative AI program back in 2023 and it has continued to evolve. Together with Claude and Midjourney, it’s one of my go-to (free!) tools for content creation.

Others are embracing generative AI, as in these charming 2-part children’s videos by Zoey Shamai, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Canada’s Tonica Kombucha.