Eat Hello

:: How I Make Tonic Water Syrup

January 7, 2014
tonic water syrup a la meet me at mikes

 

I’m such a hipster. I make my own tonic water. What’s WITH me?! I don’t even drink! I must say, despite my gin-avoidance,  I love tonic water.  I especially like this homemade stuff. It feels like you are having a fancy drink, without the boozy side-effects. I sent away for the herbs to make some before Christmas and they arrived in time to make this on Christmas Eve. Thanks herbs!

My friend Gemma and I were talking about it on Christmas Day, as we sipped away. We remembered how much we loved mixer drinks when we were kids: Dry Ginger Ale, Bitter Lemon, Soda Water and Tonic ranked highly.

So in my quest for tonic, I read lots of recipes for tonic water and combined them all to make ‘my own’. It’s loosely based on this one. You are meant to use cinchona bark (the quinine/bitter element!), but it’s hard to get here and is apparently carcinogenic! I did some research and substituted cut quassia and gentian root to get the bitter taste instead. There are other non-scary things you can use to get the ‘bitter’ element in tonic water too. Look here for a list of bitter things. Have a play around and see what you like! You don’t have to go the weird herb route.

I also carefully researched my herbs to check the side effects in case I started going all Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds. It’s okay though. I didn’t find anything too scary and we’ve been drinking this with no ill-effects as the herbal element is very diluted.  It’s always good to be careful with herbs, though. Do your own research to make sure you are okey doke with using herbs too. (Here’s the details for using gentian root and quassia! Don’t take these if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, obviously!)

Edit: An experienced naturopath has contacted me to say that these tiny quantities of herbs are safe, even for pregnant/breastfeeding women!

We’ve been drinking this since Christmas Eve and it’s delicious with soda water, ice and a slice of lime. You can mix it with other fruit juices or make lovely Gin and Tonics, if that is your thing! Here’s how to make it…

 Tonic Water Syrup RecipeTonic Water Syrup Recipe

Tonic Syrup + Sugar Syrup = Tonic Water Syrup!

For the Tonic Syrup

4 cups water
2 stalks of lemongrass, chopped
¼ cup cut quassia
1/4 cup of gentian root
juice and zest of of one orange
juice and zest of one lemon
juice and zest of one grapefruit
juice and zest of one lime
1/4 cup of citric acid
1 tblsp of allspice berries
1/2 tsp of salt

Put all ingredients into a heavy based pot, bring to boil and simmer for half an hour. While you are waiting, make the sugar syrup.

For the Sugar Syrup
4 cups of water mixed with 8 cups of raw sugar : simmer uncovered over a medium heat, stirring often, until sugar has dissolved
Make the final Tonic Water Syrup
Strain the tonic syrup through a fine strainer.
Mix with the sugar syrup to make tonic water syrup.
Bottle in clean dry bottles and keep in the fridge.
Yield:
It made approx 3 litre bottles of syrup for me. I actually fiddled around with the sugar syrup a bit, so don’t be mad if it makes more or less… it was Christmas Eve and I was a bit distracted!  When I make it again, I’ll let you know exactly how much it yields!
To Use:
Use the tonic water like cordial syrup : add a little in the bottom of a glass and top up with soda water or plain mineral water.

 

What fancy drinks have you been sipping?!

x Pip