The origins of tonic water ultimately lie in mankind’s age-old fight against malaria. Or at least the discovery of quinine does (and just as well too). Quinine is the key ingredient that creates the gentle bitterness in tonic water and is theorized to be toxic to the malarial pathogen by interfering with the parasite’s ability to dissolve and metabolize the red protein in blood responsible for transporting oxygen.

In the 1600’s, with the world plagued by malaria-carrying mosquitos, a Jesuit monk called Agostino discovered that native Indians who would chew the bark of the Cinchona Tree when they had a fever would see their fever subside. He wondered whether it could do the same with malaria – and hey presto! The bark was sent across Europe as medicine and for the first time ever there was a way to prevent the epidemic spreading.

In the 1800s’, we saw the first ‘Indian Tonic Waters’ created as the British soldiers stationed in India mixed their daily ration of quinine with ‘a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down’ along with some local spices and citrus. These enterprising soldiers and their counter parts in the Royal Navy couldn’t resist mixing this medicinal mixture with their ration of gin, and the humble G&T was born.

That little piece of Cinchona bark pretty much changed the world and the concoction of the gin and tonic mix revolutionised, not only the way people took their daily medicine, but also when they took it. With the mosquitos choosing to come out as the sun went down, all over Europe people would raise a glass at sunset and enjoy a gin and tonic as a pleasantly social ritual. In doing so, the social status of the drink has been well and truly elevated.

That is why Fever-Tree is supporting the global campaign, #MalariaMustDie so that together we can be the generation to end malaria for good. From April 22^nd– May 31st, Fever-Tree is calling on people across South Africa (and the world) to join them in raising a glass to malaria’s demise. The initiative is part of the global campaign ‘Malaria Must Die, So Millions Can Live’ convened by Malaria No More UK on behalf of the global malaria community.

All you have to do to play your part is raise a glass on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, tagging @FeverTreeMixers and #MalariaMustDie, and Fever-Tree will donate £5 to the cause.

For more information about Fever-Tree’s partnership with Malaria No More, visit: https://fevertree.com/en_GB/article/malaria.

For more information on Fever-Tree, please visit www.fever-tree.com.

To connect with Fever-Tree South Africa visit us on Facebook /FeverTreeZA.

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