Tonic water was first introduced by the Schweppes Company in 1870, the same year they originally released Ginger Ale. Sometimes referred to simply as Tonic, the carbonated water is flavored with sugar, fruit extracts, and quinine, a bitter alkaloid from the bark of the cinchona tree that has a history of use in the treatment of malaria. Due to its quinine content, soon after Tonic Water’s introduction, the product became highly popular with the British inhabiting India, a country where outbreaks of malaria are not uncommon. Nevertheless, the quinine levels in the drink are not high enough to really offer any medicinal benefits. Today, Tonic Water is widely utilized as a mixer for alcoholic beverages, especially those containing gin.