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Is there quinine in Pimms?

Author

Sarah Smith

Published Jan 17, 2026

Pimm's Contains Anti-malaria Medicine.

Like tonic water, Pimm's contains a chemical called quinine, which is commonly used to treat malaria.

Does Pimms have quinine?

Many modern day liqueurs like Campari and Pimm's contain quinine.

What alcoholic drinks contain quinine?

Both Campari and Pimm's contain small amounts of quinine, as surprisingly does Irn Bru, Scotland's other national drink.

What Pimms contain?

Essentially, it's a gin-based liqueur. James Pimm, a farmer's son who owned an oyster bar in 19th-century London, created and offered his guests this secret mix of gin, quinine, and a spice blend as a tonic to aid digestion. Today it's 25 percent alcohol by volume, or 50 proof.

What drinks quinine?

When used to treat malaria, quinine is given in a pill form. Quinine is still in tonic water, which is consumed around the world as a popular mixer with spirits, such as gin and vodka. It's a bitter beverage, though some manufacturers have tried to soften the taste a little with added sugars and other flavors.

32 related questions found

Does Coke have quinine?

Quinine is sometimes added to cocaine for its bitter flavor. Thiamin, also known as vitamin B1.

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.

When should I drink Pimms?

As a summer long drink, it is normally served as a Pimm's cocktail, a drink with "English-style" (clear and carbonated) lemonade, as well as various chopped garnishes, particularly apple, cucumber, orange, lemon, strawberry and mint or borage, though mint is more common.

Should Pimms be kept in the fridge?

There's no need to refrigerate or freeze hard liquor whether it's still sealed or already opened. Hard liquors like vodka, rum, tequila, and whiskey; most liqueurs, including Campari, St. Germain, Cointreau, and Pimm's; and bitters are perfectly safe to store at room temperature.

Can I drink Pimms by itself?

(Public service announcement – Do NOT attempt to drinks Pimms neat*. It may taste like syrupy pop, but it's deceiving. Heck, even when you've added the fizzy stuff, it can take you by surprise if you're tempted to chug it like soda.

Is quinine found in food?

In medicine quinine is used to treat malaria and nocturnal leg cramps. In the food sector, quinine is used as a flavouring mainly in beverages like bitter lemon and tonic water.

Does 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.

Does Canada Dry ginger ale contain quinine?

Ingredients: CARBONATED WATER, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM BENZOATE (PRESERVATIVE), QUININE, NATURAL FLAVORS.

Does Pimms contain strawberry?

But there's one more vital element: fruit! Usually some combination of orange, strawberries, cucumber, apples, lemons, and fresh mint.

Is Pimms low alcohol?

The quintessentially British Pimm's Cup gets a low-alcohol refresh. Long summer days have a way of bleeding almost imperceptibly into nights. As warmer weather permits more time spent outdoors, nocturnal hours, though short, stretch longer.

Does Angostura bitters contain quinine?

Tonic water gave birth to the famous Gin and Tonic, which allowed British colonists in India to enjoy their medicine a bit more, albeit in smaller doses. Quinine is found in other bitters and also in some vermouth. It is certainly plausible for angostura bark to have been used in Angostura bitters.

How long will Pimms last once opened?

For all you Pimm's experts out there, once opened how long will the bottle of Pimm's last ? Also what are the ingredients & will Sprite be a good mixer or something else? Pimm's will last about 18 to 24 months, until the goodness starts to fade.

Does Lillet blanc go bad?

Once opened, our best advice is to refrigerate it. Even better if you use a vacuum sealing cork. Under these conditions a wine based aperitif can stay quite fresh for up to 2 months (though one month to six weeks is the more common, on-the-safe-side advice).

How do you drink Pimms straight?

Half-fill a Collins glass with ice and a few slices of cucumber, borage leaves, or other garnishes. Add measure of Pimm's, then top up glass with lemonade or soda. Stir gently and add additional ice if neccessary. Garnish with slices of lemon and cucumber.

Is Pimms a spirit?

Pimm's is a gin-based spirit, made by infusing gin with a secret combination of herbal botanicals, caramelised orange and warm spices. Mr Pimm originally served it at his oyster bar in London, but by the 1850s it had gained popularity and gone into mass production.

Is Pimms?

What is Pimm's? Pimm's is a gin-based fruity spirit. A quintessentially British liqueur, it's made be by infusing gin with a secret concoction of botanicals, caramelised orange and warm spices.

Is Pimms vegan?

Fortunately, Pimms is indeed vegan. Unlike some alcohol which uses animal products for clarifying drinks, Pimms contains no animal derivatives. Your summertime tipples and post work rooftop drinks are safe. Both the bottle of Pimms and pre-mixed cans of the iconic cocktail are vegan-friendly, so bring on Summer!

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.

Why do they put quinine in tonic water?

The quinine present in tonic water provides a distinctive bitter flavour. The inclusion of quinine in tonic is often associated as a primary health benefit of tonic. Quinine's primary benefit is for the treatment of malaria. It's not used to prevent malaria, but rather to kill the organism responsible for the disease.

What is a substitute for quinine?

Naftidrofuryl is an effective alternative to quinine in the treatment of this painful condition.