Sources
Help build the largest human-edited directory on the web.
Submit a site - Become an editor
Wikipedia. Licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Are you an expert in this subject? Join the discussion and share your knowledge at Wikipedia.org.
Tonic water
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tonic water (or Indian tonic water) is a carbonated soft drink flavoured with quinine. The drink gains its name from the medicinal effects of this slightly bitter flavouring. The quinine was added to the drink as a prophylactic against malaria, since it was originally intended for consumption in tropical areas of India and Africa where that disease is endemic. Tonic water originally contained only carbonated water and quinine, and it contained a large amount of the latter. However, most tonic water today contains a medically insignificant amount of quinine, and is thus used for its flavor only. It is consequently less bitter, and is also usually sweetened. Some manufacturers also produce diet tonic water. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration limits the quinine content in tonic water to 83 ppm (83 mg per liter if calculated by mass), which is one-half to one-quarter the concentration used in therapeutic tonic. Tonic water is often used as a drink mixer for cocktails, especially those made with gin (for example, a gin and tonic). Tonic water with lemon or lime flavor added is known as bitter lemon or bitter lime, respectively. Such soft drinks are more popular in Europe than in the United States. Tonic water will fluoresce under ultraviolet light, due to the presence of quinine.
Brands of tonic water:
- Canada Dry
- Hansen's
- Cantrell
- Cunnington
- Polar Beverages
- Seagram's
- Schweppes
- Royal Club
- Nordic Mist by Coca-Cola Company
- Kinley by Coca-Cola Company
- Krest by Coca-Cola Company
- Antarctica by Ambev (Brazil)
- Schin Tonica, made by Schincariol (Brazil)
- Finches by Gleeson (Ireland)
- Paso de los Toros by PepsiCo Inc. (Argentina & Uruguay)