Tonic water

Tonic water is a carbonated soft drink flavored with quinine, a bitter compound derived from cinchona bark. It is commonly served alone or mixed with spirits.

Quinine: Quinine is a bitter alkaloid found in cinchona bark and used to treat malaria. It gives tonic water its characteristic bitter flavor.
Cinchona bark trade: The cinchona bark trade moved a source of quinine from South America to markets around the world. The trade supplied the quinine that made medicinal tonic drinks possible.
Gin and tonic: A gin and tonic is a mixed drink made with gin and tonic water, usually served over ice. It is the best-known cocktail built around tonic water.
Club soda: Club soda is carbonated water with added minerals or salts, commonly used as a drink mixer. Unlike tonic water, it does not rely on quinine for flavor.
Carbonated water: Carbonated water is water containing dissolved carbon dioxide that produces bubbles. Its dissolved gas gives tonic water its fizz.
British India: British India was the period of colonial rule over much of the Indian subcontinent from 1858 to 1947. British officials and soldiers in India used quinine against malaria and helped popularize quinine drinks.
Vodka tonic: A vodka tonic is a mixed drink made with vodka and tonic water, often served with citrus. It shows how tonic water’s bitterness pairs with spirits beyond gin.
Seltzer: Seltzer is plain carbonated water without the added minerals characteristic of club soda. Its lack of quinine and sweetener makes it a neutral alternative to tonic water.
Cinchona: Cinchona is a genus of South American trees whose bark contains quinine and related alkaloids. Its bark was the original source of the quinine used in tonic water.
Malaria prophylaxis: Malaria prophylaxis is the use of medication or other measures to prevent malaria infection. Quinine in early tonic water was taken to help prevent malaria.

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