Just something I thought I would share about Tonic Water. This originally came up because I am a big fan of Gin and Tonics, but someone offhandedly told me that Tonic Water was originally an anti-malarial. As it turns out Tonic Water is an anti-malarial due to it’s contents of Quinine which is a prophylactic (something that doesn’t treat a disease but is intended to prevent it) against malaria. The content of Quinine is what gives Tonic Water its distinctive bitter taste. Originally there were medicinal levels of Quinine in Tonic Water but now those levels have been significantly reduced in order to make the drink more palatable; unless you live in the tropics where malaria is endemic you most likely won’t need medicinal levels (although quinine does treat night cramps).
Well since Tonic Water is a prophylactic against malaria it is probably a smart thing that the European occupying British colonial India were drinking the stuff because well lets face it Europeans get their asses handed to them by Malaria on it’s home turf. Although those Brits in colonial India found the damn stuff unpalatable because of the bitter taste so someone had a stroke of genius, add gin. Hence, Gin and Tonics were born in an effort to cover up the bitter taste. Guess that gives some honesty to that drinking salute “Here’s to my health” … if your drinking medicinal tonic water … somewhere tropical with malaria.
Some reference information: