The origins of gin and tonic

(Left image: a Juniper. 
Right image: Flower of the Cinchona Pubescens)

We all know that, nowadays, gin and tonic is a typical mixed drink at the UK and at some other countries, but what many people don’t know is: which are the origins of, on the one hand, tonic, and on the other hand, gin?

Well, nowadays, the tonic is a normal drink, like, for example, beer or Coca-Cola, but before this, in the 19th century, it was used as a medicine (it was called quinine) to combat malaria at some tropical areas.

Quinine (from the Quechua word: kina) is a kind of curative substance which is taken from a tree called Cinchona pubescens, and its substance, quinine, was used for the purposes said before. This tree has its origins in southern America: for example in Colombia or in Bolivia, and, as an important fact, the tree is considered one of the most invader species in its environment.

On the other hand, we have the gin, the other kind of drink which forms this cocktail. This word, gin, comes from the French word “genièvre”, which means “juniper”. This word, juniper, refers to a kind of tree or bush which is grown throughout the northern hemisphere. These trees provide a fruit called “juniper berry”, which is best known for being the primary flavoring in gin (and responsible for gin's name, which is a shortening of the Dutch word for juniper, genever).

In addition, Juniper berries were recognized from ancient times as possessing medicinal properties. By the 11th century, Italian monks were flavoring distilled spirits with juniper berries. During the Black Plague, this drink was used as a remedy, but it didn’t serve.

We also have to say which is the basic composition of gin and tonic: it consists of a mixture made with gin and tonic water poured over ice. This cocktail was introduced by the army of the British East India Company in India.