Tonic Water

 

Tonic water is carbonated water infused with quinine. For added taste sometimes sugar or fruit acids are mixed in. The higher the level of quinine in the water, the more bitter it tastes. Quinine comes from the bark of the cinchona tree, which despite its Asian sounding name is actually found in South America. “Tonic” is synonymous with “refresher” or “energizer”, and the Greek root word “tonikos” means “invigorating.”

The indigenous peoples of South America already knew about the healing properties of cinchona bark, but it was their European conquerors who first used the bark to treat malaria.

                                                                     History Of Quinine 

Quinine in the Flag Of  Peru 

Tonic Water = Quinine + Lime Infused Mineral Water

The first patent for tonic water was awarded in 1858 to Erasmus Bond from London. Johann Jacob Schweppe’s company, the royal purveyor to the British court since 1831, first introduced its own quinine-and-lime-infused mineral water onto the market in a big way in 1870. Schweppe himself never lived to see the day, having already passed away in 1821.

                                                                                Then 

                                                                       Schweppes 1870

Now

Tonic Water + Gin  = Gin and Tonic which has its origins in India 

British soldiers in India hated the taste but knew they had to drink the tonic water to help prevent the persistent malarial problem from reaching them. So, they turned to other items they had rations of – you guessed it, gin! They ended up mixing together a concoction of gin, sugar, and lime into their quinine-infused tonic water. This made the drink less bitter, more sweet, and much more delicious. This twist on the tonic water quickly became iconic. 

Fun Fact: Quinine + Mineral Water 

Why Does Tonic Water Glow 

Quinine is the most important alkaloid among the 25 others found in cinchona bark. As a white powder it actually has no odor, but it does indeed seem to have an enhanced sense of its own mission: it fluoresces, or glows, even at ratios of 1:100,000. Its taste can still be noticed at a ratio of 1:50,000.

Things That Glow Under Black Light 

Snapshot