How To: Make tonic water

Learn how to make tonic water. Why spend money on store-bought tonic water when you can have fun at home doing it yourself for a fraction of the cost?

Step 1. Combine ingredients

Put all of the ingredients except the sugar in the saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil.

Step 2. Simmer

Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and simmer for 20 minutes.

Spice to your taste with allspice berries, salt, coriander, orange peel, bitters, and lemons or limes.

Step 3. Strain

Remove the mixture from the heat and strain out all the solids with a fine strainer.

Step 4. Repeat straining

Strain the mixture again, this time through a coffee filter.

Step 5. Add sugar

Put the strained mixture back into the pan, bring it to a simmer, and add the sugar. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.

Step 6. Refrigerate

Pour the syrup into a bottle or container that can be tightly sealed and refrigerate.

Step 7. Add syrup and serve

Add syrup to soda water to taste. Serve over ice, or use in cocktails.

FACT: Cinchona bark contains quinine, which for centuries was the most common anti-malarial remedy in the world.