Why does tonic water sometimes contain quinine?
Why do some tonic waters contain quinine? What IS quinine? Thanks!
When tonic water first came out, it was marketed as a tonic against malaria. The quinine in it has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and fever reducing properties. Tonic water used to be essentially a bitter tasting carbonated water that was loaded with quinine.
Nowadays however, the amounts of quinine are so minute that they are far from medicinal. They are just added for the bitter flavor.
December 8th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
A tonic against malaria
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December 8th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
When tonic water first came out, it was marketed as a tonic against malaria. The quinine in it has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and fever reducing properties. Tonic water used to be essentially a bitter tasting carbonated water that was loaded with quinine.
Nowadays however, the amounts of quinine are so minute that they are far from medicinal. They are just added for the bitter flavor.
References :
December 8th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Quinine is an anti-malarial drug. The British took it as a preventative in India. Some clever Brit realized that the bitter taste countered the sickly-sweet taste of gin. Add a bit of lime, serve on the rocks, and you have a gin and tonic, perfect for those hot, sticky evenings on the verandah.
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