Does bitter lemon contain quinine?
Mia Kelly
Published Jan 06, 2026
Bitter lemon is a bitter lemon flavoured soft drink. Its signature taste is a result of inherently bitter lemon pith being reinforced by the bitter alkaloid quinine.
How much quinine is in bitter lemon?
Many drinks such as bitter lemon or tonic waters contain quinine. Individuals in this study received more than 100 mg/d of quinine, equivalent to a daily consumption of more than one liter of bitter lemon or tonic waters.
Does Schweppes Bitter Lemon contain quinine?
It is crafted with a complex blend of orange and lemon peels, harnessing a blend of lemon juice and bespoke citrus essences and oils sourced from around the world. Finally, it is finished with a touch of quinine from the tropics, derived from the bark of the cinchona tree.
Does lemon have quinine?
Abstract. Although the United States Food and Drug Administration banned its use for nocturnal leg cramps due to lack of safety and efficacy, quinine is widely available in beverages including tonic water and bitter lemon.
What drinks are high in quinine?
Today, you can find quinine in some of your favorite beverages, most notably in tonic water. Historically, tonic water contained very high levels of quinine and was extremely bitter, requiring sugar and, at times, gin to improve the flavor profile.
25 related questions foundDoes grapefruit juice have quinine?
The juice or grapefruit itself contains valuable and natural quinine, which is advantageous for the treatment of malaria. Quinine is an alkaloid with a long history of treating malaria, as well as lupus, arthritis and nocturnal leg cramps.
What is natural quinine?
Quinine is a bitter compound that comes from the bark of the cinchona tree. The tree is most commonly found in South America, Central America, the islands of the Caribbean, and parts of the western coast of Africa. Quinine was originally developed as a medicine to fight malaria.
Is bitter lemon the same as lemon tonic?
The principal difference between tonic water and bitter lemon is the lemon juice, pith, and peel. The juice adds sour, offset by additional sweetener, and the oily peel fragrance. Bitter lemon is consumed both by itself and as a mixer, and is sold around the world.
Where can I find quinine?
Quinine comes from the bark of the cinchona tree. This tree is native to central and South America, as well as some islands in the Caribbean and western parts of Africa. People have consumed quinine in tonic water to help treat cases of malaria for centuries.
What tonic water has the most quinine?
The most quinine-containing tonic water is Fever-Tree Premium Indian Tonic Water, which is made with quinine from the Rwanda Congo border, spring water, and eight botanical flavors, including marigold and bitter orange extracts.
How much quinine is in tonic water?
Tonic water contains no more than 83 mg of quinine per liter—a much lower concentration than the 500 to 1,000 mg in the therapeutic dose of quinine tablets. Drinking a few ounces of tonic water shouldn't be harmful, but it isn't likely to prevent your leg cramps. There are a few other things you can do, however.
Is bitter lemon healthy?
"It helps keep you hydrated and thus improves muscle function and digestion. It may also aid in weight loss." She explained that the bitter flavor of the lemon is thought to increase bile production and flow.
What does quinine do to the body?
Quinine is used to treat malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Plasmodium falciparum is a parasite that gets into the red blood cells in the body and causes malaria. Quinine works by killing the parasite or preventing it from growing.
Is quinine sulphate the same as quinine Bisulphate?
The quinine salt should always be stated when prescribing because 200 mg quinine sulphate is equivalent to around 300 mg quinine bisulphate.
Does Canada Dry still make bitter lemon?
With rumors abound that Canada Dry doesn't make their bitter lemon anymore, imagine my excitement to find it in a Florida grocery store (specifically a Publix in Weston, Florida). While bitter lemon is no longer as popular as it was twenty-five years ago it still has niche following.
Does all Schweppes have quinine?
Tonic water in general and Schweppes tonic water, in particular, contains no more than 83 mg of quinine/liter. Schweppes quinine concentration is much less than the amount of quinine in the therapeutic dose of quinine tablets. Specifically, Schweppes quinine content is 67 mg/liter.
Can I buy quinine over-the-counter?
In the mid-1990s, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned over-the-counter availability of quinine and marketing of prescription quinine products for leg cramps. In early 2007, FDA banned all prescription quinine products other than Qualaquin.
Can you still buy quinine tablets?
What is quinine? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has banned the sale of all non-approved brands of quinine. Do not purchase quinine on the Internet or from vendors outside of the United States. Quinine is used to treat uncomplicated malaria, a disease caused by parasites.
Is bitter lemon acidic?
Because they contain a high amount of citric acid, lemons have an acidic pH. Lemon juice has a pH between 2 and 3, which means it's 10,000–100,000 times more acidic than water (1, 2, 3). A food's pH is a measure of its acidity. The pH of lemon juice falls between 2 and 3, meaning it is acidic.
Does Schweppes Bitter Lemon have alcohol?
Schweppes Bitter Lemon is a non-alcoholic carbonated drink that can be enjoyed on its own or combined with alcohol or fruit juice.
What is in Schweppes?
Ingredients Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Quinine, Natural Flavors.
What plants contain quinine?
cinchona, (genus Cinchona), genus of about 23 species of plants, mostly trees, in the madder family (Rubiaceae), native to the Andes of South America. The bark of some species contains quinine and is useful against malaria.
What is a substitute for quinine?
Naftidrofuryl is an effective alternative to quinine in the treatment of this painful condition.
Does Coke have quinine?
Quinine is sometimes added to cocaine for its bitter flavor. Thiamin, also known as vitamin B1.