Editing Tonic water (section)

== History ==
As early as the 17th century the Spanish used quinine from the bark of ''[[Cinchona]]'' trees to treat malaria after being shown the remedy from the Indigenous peoples of [[Peru]], [[Bolivia]], and [[Ecuador]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Achan|first1=Jane|last2=Talisuna|first2=Ambrose O|last3=Erhart|first3=Annette|last4=Yeka|first4=Adoke|last5=Tibenderana|first5=James K|last6=Baliraine|first6=Frederick N|last7=Rosenthal|first7=Philip J|last8=D'Alessandro|first8=Umberto|date=2011-05-24|title=Quinine, an old anti-malarial drug in a modern world: role in the treatment of malaria|journal=Malaria Journal|volume=10|pages=144|doi=10.1186/1475-2875-10-144|issn=1475-2875|pmc=3121651|pmid=21609473 |doi-access=free }}</ref> 

In early 19th century [[India]] and other tropical posts of the [[British Empire]], medicinal quinine was recommended to British officials and soldiers to prevent [[malaria]],<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2018-07-05|title=The Hidden Ingredient In Tonic Water You Should Know About|url=https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/what-is-quinine-in-tonic-water|access-date=2022-01-21|website=mindbodygreen|language=en}}</ref> where it was mixed with soda and sugar to mask its bitter taste, creating tonic water.

The first commercial tonic water was produced in 1858 when it was patented by the owner of Pitt & Co., Erasmus Bond.<ref>{{cite web|last=Raustiala|first=Kal|title=The Imperial Cocktail |url= http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/foreigners/2013/08/gin_and_tonic_kept_the_british_empire_healthy_the_drink_s_quinine_powder.single.html |work= [[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|date=28 August 2013|publisher=[[The Slate Group]]|access-date=30 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Just the tonic: A natural history of tonic water {{!}} Kew|url=https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/just-the-tonic-history|access-date=2022-01-21|website=www.kew.org}}</ref> The mixed drink [[gin and tonic]] also originated in [[British India|British colonial India]], when the British mixed their medicinal quinine tonic with [[gin]] and other ingredients to make the bitter medicine more palatable.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tonic water: sweet, bitter medicine. - Free Online Library |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Tonic+water:+sweet,+bitter+medicine.-a0184549889 |website=www.thefreelibrary.com |access-date=30 December 2009}}</ref> Soldiers in India were already given a gin ration, so the sweet concoction was easy to make.<ref>{{cite web|last=Raustiala |first=Kal |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/foreigners/2013/08/gin_and_tonic_kept_the_british_empire_healthy_the_drink_s_quinine_powder.single.html |title=Gin and tonic kept the British Empire healthy: The drink's quinine powder was vital for stopping the spread of malaria |publisher=Slate.com |date=2013-08-28 |access-date=2014-06-25}}</ref> In 1868, the first known record of a gin and tonic was in the ''Oriental Sporting Magazine'' and was described as a refreshing cocktail for spectators of horse racing, not as a medicine.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Keel|first=Toby|date=2019-10-19|title=Curious Questions: Who invented the gin and tonic?|url=https://www.countrylife.co.uk/food-drink/curious-questions-invented-gin-tonic-206058|access-date=2022-02-04|website=Country Life|language=en}}</ref>