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.
TIP: 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.