• Home
  • Recipes
  • Eats & Drinks
    â–¼
    • Easy Everyday
    • Desserts
    • Cocktails
    • Drinks
  • Parties
    â–¼
    • Party Food
    • Celebrations
    • Everyday Parties
    • Party DIY
    • Party Planning
    • Flowers
  • Home
    â–¼
    • Decorating
    • Cleaning
    • Organizing
    • Gardening
  • Holidays
    â–¼
    • 4th of July
    • Birthdays
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Saint Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • Mother’s Day
    • Father’s Day
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year’s Eve
  • Videos
  • Shop
  • About
  • Press
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Press
  • Recipe Index
  • Videos
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Tumblr
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sugar and Charm

  • Eats & Drinks
    • Easy Everyday
    • Desserts
    • Cocktails
    • Drinks
  • Parties
    • Party Food
    • Celebrations
    • Everyday Parties
    • Party DIY
    • Party Planning
    • Flowers
  • Home
    • Decorating
    • Cleaning
    • Organizing
    • Gardening
  • Holidays
    • 4th of July
    • Birthdays
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Saint Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • Mother’s Day
    • Father’s Day
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year’s Eve
  • Shop
Home » Eats & Drinks » Quick Guide to Tonic Water

Quick Guide to Tonic Water

Published on February 15, 2022 by Eden

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
This post may contain Affiliate Links. Please read our privacy policy here.
Jump to Recipe

Everything you need to know about tonic water, how to use it, what it is and more! We use tonic water in many of our cocktail recipes, like our gin and tonic recipes. It’s a bubbly and refreshing drink made with sugar and Quinine.

It’s a great mixer for mixed drinks and easy cocktails. There are several brands, including lower sugar and calories too. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about this popular bubbly water.

lemon juice and tonic water

Whether you’re drinking it straight or as a mixer, it’s time to learn all there is to know about this bubbly water.

What Is Tonic Water?

Table of Contents

  • What Is Tonic Water?
  • Tonic Water And Quinine
  • Tonic Water Benefits
  • What is tonic water vs soda water?
  • Is tonic water alcoholic?
  • Best Tonic Water Brands
  • Drinks and Cocktails with Tonic Water
  • More Cocktail Ideas
  • Tonic Water and Lemon Juice
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Nutrition

So, what is tonic water exactly? It’s a type of water with some additives. It includes:

  • Carbonated water
  • Quinine (more on this later)
  • Sugar or high fructose corn syrup 

Many brands are adding other flavorings to it like bontanical, limes and lemongrass which give a hint of flavor to the water.

Tonic Water And Quinine

When you consider tonic water ingredients and drinking it, you might wonder what is quinine? Some might say that quinine is what makes it different from other water-based mixers.

It’s what gives it the slightly bitter taste that makes it so unique. Quinine is a bitter type of compound. It comes from cinchona tree bark. The cinchona tree is most commonly grown in:

  • The Caribbean
  • South America
  • Central America
  • Parts of Africa

Originally, the bark would be used for medicinal purposes before it became the key ingredient in tonic water. Quinine was commonly used to fight malaria which was prevalent in these locations.

pouring tonic water over ice

Tonic Water Benefits

There are some benefits to drinking tonic water. Back in the day it was used to treat malaria. Quinine can be beneficial if you suffer from leg cramps. 

Some believe that quinine can actually help to alleviate stress (even without the gin included). You do want to take note of the sugar content in it though if you plan to drink it regularly.

What is tonic water vs soda water?

Tonic water is sweet, carbonated water made with quinine and has a bitter taste. Soda water is just carbonated water. Soda water tastes like water with bubbles.

Is tonic water alcoholic?

It is not alcoholic, it’s carbonated water with quinine. It has a bitter, sweet taste to it. The most popular cocktail made with it is a gin and tonic. 

Best Tonic Water Brands

There used to be only a few brands of tonic water used specifically for mixers. Now though, there are many new brands with altered flavors that you can drink straight or as mixers in a cocktail. Here are a few of our favorite brands:

Canada Dry and Schweppes are the most well-known and standard tonic waters. You’ll taste the slightly bitter quinine in both brands. 

Fever-Tree is a new tonic brand that is slightly less sweet than some others. It also comes with several botanical versions including elderberry, cucumber, and citrus to name a few. 

Fentiman’s is another brand great for drinking straight or in a cocktail. They make several botanical versions infused with lemongrass and juniper. 

Betty Buzz – A refreshing American style, not overly sweet or bitter.

Are you looking for an option that doesn’t include quinine?

Try Love Tonic which is also naturally sweetened making it less calorie-filled than some of the previous options mentioned.

tonic water in a glass

Drinks and Cocktails with Tonic Water

Coffee Tonic

Lavender Gin and Tonic Punch

Cranberry Gin and Tonic

How to Make a Classic Gin and Tonic

Frozen Gin and Tonic

Fruit Infused Gin and Tonics

Empress Purple Gin and Tonic

More Cocktail Ideas

Add 2 ounces liquor to 5 ounces tonic water to make any of these cocktails:

Vodka Tonic

Whiskey Tonic

Tequila and Tonic

St Germain and Tonic

Lillet and Tonic

Now you’re ready for a refreshing drink! Add fresh lemon or lime juice to the water and a shot of gin for an easy cocktail!

Also check out more great cocktail recipes our favorite brunch recipes,  tequila cocktails, gin cocktails, vodka cocktails, and cheap drinks to make at home!

You can also FOLLOW US on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious recipes, cocktails, desserts, and parties!c

lemon juice and tonic water

Tonic Water and Lemon Juice

A refreshing drink made with tonic water and lemon juice.
No ratings yet
Print Pin Rate
Course: Drink
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Servings: 1 cocktail
Calories: 6kcal
Author: Eden

Ingredients

  • 5 ounces tonic water
  • 1 ounce lemon juice

Instructions

  • Fill a glass with ice and pour tonic water over the top.
    pouring tonic water over ice
  • Add lemon juce and garnish with a lemon wheel.
    lemon juice and tonic water

Nutrition

Calories: 6kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 30mg | Potassium: 32mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @sugarandcharm or tag us #sugarandcharm!

Whether you want your tonic water on the rocks or mixed with a little gin, it’s a great tangy mixer that will awaken your taste buds. For more great recipe ideas including cocktails, sign up for our newsletter here. 


Leave a Comment

Related Posts

  • Super Easy Garlic Dip Recipe

    Super Easy Garlic Dip Recipe

  • Amazing Easy Meatball Appetizer Recipe

    Amazing Easy Meatball Appetizer Recipe

  • How to Make Honey Syrup

    How to Make Honey Syrup

Stay up to Date

Join our Newsletter to Keep up on Latest

Related Posts

  • How to Make Limoncello
  • Homemade Almond Milk – Chocolate Flavor
  • How to Make Cucumber Lemon Water
  • How to Make A Refreshing Matcha Spritz
Previous Post: « The Best Birthday No-Bake Cheesecake Recipe
Next Post: The Best Yogurt Fruit Dip Recipe »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Eden of Sugar and Charm

Adding a little charm to the everyday life with entertaining and lifestyle inspiration, sweet recipes and classic style… your daily dose of sugar and charm!

Meet
Eden

Eden’s Corner

Eden's Corner

Sign Up for our Newsletter

Signup for the Newsletter
View our Most Charming Posts

Seasonal Recipes

The Best Banana Bread Recipe Ever

The Best Banana Bread Recipe Ever

Complete Guide to Making Homemade Popsicles + Recipes

Complete Guide to Making Homemade Popsicles + Recipes

How to Make Delicious and Easy Monkey Bread!

How to Make Delicious and Easy Monkey Bread!

How to Create the Perfect Cheese Platter

How to Create the Perfect Cheese Platter

A Colorful Backyard Carnival Party Theme

A Colorful Backyard Carnival Party Theme

Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce

Easy Homemade Caramel Sauce

Popular Posts

The Best Cookie Recipes

The Best Cookie Recipes

Cranberry Orange Cornbread Recipe

Cranberry Orange Cornbread Recipe

Super Moist Easy Pumpkin Bread Recipe

Super Moist Easy Pumpkin Bread Recipe

Frozen Gin and Tonic Recipe

Frozen Gin and Tonic Recipe

Valentine’s Day Charcuterie and Dessert Platter!

Valentine’s Day Charcuterie and Dessert Platter!

Guide to Hosting a Tropical Summer Party!

Guide to Hosting a Tropical Summer Party!

Footer

You Might Also Like

garlic dip recipe

Super Easy Garlic Dip Recipe

meatball appetizers

Amazing Easy Meatball Appetizer Recipe

honey simple syrup with lavender

How to Make Honey Syrup

mint julep recipe

Easy Mint Julep Recipe

baked blueberry donuts

Best Baked Blueberry Donuts Recipe

Featured In:

Featured In Logos

Copyright © 2022 · Sugar and Charm · Privacy Policy · Accessibility Statement