What is tonic water - the secret revealed

What is tonic water?

Tonics are carbonated soft drinks that belong to the bitter lemonade family. The drink gets its bitter taste from quinine, while lemongrass adds freshness. The higher the quinine content, the more bitter the drink. Sugar is optionally added depending on the aromas of the fruit acids. The name is derived from the ancient Greek word "tonikos", which can be translated as "tonic". In English, "tonic" means something like "strengthening" or "invigorating".

Quinine - the triumph of a bark

Quinine is a natural chemical compound and belongs to the quinoline alkaloids. It is found in South America and Africa in the bark of the cinchona tree. After extraction of quinine from the bark, the substance is pressed and sold as a powder. If your drink glows blue when exposed to UV light, this is due to the fluorescent properties of quinine. You can still feel the bitter taste at a mixing ratio of 1:50,000. Quinine cannot be produced artificially. It is a prescription-only medicine in Germany, but there is no need to worry: the concentration in a gin and tonic is too low to have any effect. However, a liter of tonic water may contain a maximum of 85 mg of quinine.

The story behind tonic water

Quinine has a legendary history. Indigenous peoples traditionally knew about the healing power of the bark. When a Spanish soldier suffering from malaria fell into a pool surrounded by cinchona trees during a conquest, he quickly recovered. The Countess of Chinchón, who was also suffering from malaria, is said to have been nursed back to health with cinchona by a chieftain's daughter in 1638. The story is not historically proven, but gave the tree its name. Until the middle of the 19th century, however, the bark was the only cure for malaria.

In 1820, the two French pharmacists Pierre Joseph Pelletier and Joseph Bienaimé Caventou are said to have succeeded in extracting pure quinine. Erasmus Bond patented tonic water in London in 1858. In 1870, Johann Jacob Schweppe's company, purveyor to the British Crown, launched a tonic water infused with quinine and lime on the market on a large scale under the name Indian Tonic.

As with gin, you will also find an enormous variety of flavors in tonic water.

The triumph of gin and tonic

Tonic water was part of the standard equipment used by the armies of the colonial powers to effectively protect against malaria. In order to maintain malaria prophylaxis, the soldiers had to drink tonic water regularly. This was quite a challenge due to the bitter taste. To mask this and make the tonic water last longer, gin was added to the canteens. The birth of gin and tonic! In combination with Indian Tonic from Schweppes, a long drink began its triumphal march around the world. Gin and tonic has always been present, sometimes more, sometimes more discreetly among connoisseurs and aficionados. In recent years, however, the drink has become immensely popular. This has led to a huge range of tonic water varieties - and an even more impressive selection of gins.

Tonic water - discover flavor profiles

The range of varieties has grown continuously in recent years, not only for gin, but also for tonic water. When asked "What is tonic water", most people first think of a relatively neutral drink. In fact, tonic water that falls into this category is characterized by rather bitter notes. To bring balance to the taste, classic tonic waters are given various citrus notes. In combination with carbon dioxide, this creates a tingling freshness, whereby the gin takes precedence in these cocktails and can develop optimally. Typical examples are Indian Tonic, but also a tonic syrup that can be dosed as required.

Tonic water with a floral note

You may have been wondering for some time what a tonic water with a floral note is. These tonic water brands are anything but restrained. They impress with floral, almost playful notes. Floral tonics give gin and tonic a whole new dimension. The focus is on an extraordinary taste experience. Bitter nuances take a back seat and the tonic water defines the taste of the drink. A typical example of floral tonics is Fever Elderflower Tonic Water. The British manufacturer sources its ingredients from various African countries. The quinine is extracted from the bark of the fevertree, which grows in Rwanda and the Congo. Elderberry is also added. Mixed with gin, the result is an intense flavor that leaves an exotic tingle in the mouth. Other interesting floral tonics such as Qyuzu play with the aroma of the exotic Qyuzu fruit.

Tonic water in the tart version