Sage-Tips

Why do Brits love gin and tonic?

Gin and tonics were originally intended to ward off malaria out in the British Empire because the quinine in the tonic acted as an anti-malarial agent. As with many traditional gin drinks it began with good medical intentions.

Why is gin so popular in the UK?

Once called ‘mother’s ruin’, gin was actually incredibly popular in the UK back in the 1700s – in fact, it got somewhat out of hand. The Gin Act in 1751, plus a greater demand for tea and some bad harvests making gin more pricey, put an end to this massive craze.

Why is gin and tonic so delicious?

Molecules in gin and tonic water naturally attract and form aggregates, and these aggregates — along with some individual molecules — float up into the receptors within your nose and mouth. Gin molecules can fit into certain proteins while tonic molecules can fit into some of these same proteins.

What did English soldiers call gin?

During the Thirty Years War, 1618–1648, the British fought alongside the Dutch and soon took a liking to Dutch gin, which the Dutch themselves called ‘genever’, meaning juniper in Dutch. In English, ‘genever’ became gin and an English obsession was born as it made its way back with the soldiers.

What disease did gin cure?

History. The cocktail was introduced by the army of the British East India Company in India. In India and other tropical regions, malaria was a persistent problem. In the 1700s, Scottish doctor George Cleghorn studied how quinine, a traditional cure for malaria, could be used to prevent the disease.

Which country invented gin?

Holland
Like many of Britain’s national favourites, gin did not originate on our shores. In fact, if you don’t count the Italian monks who are thought to have used juniper berries as flavourings in distilled spirits back in the 11th century, it’s Holland that’s credited as the birthplace of gin.

Why is gin called Mothers ruin?

The gin obsession was blamed for misery, rising crime, madness, higher death rates and falling birth rates. Gin joints allowed women to drink alongside men for the first time and it is thought this led many women neglecting their children and turning to prostitution, hence gin becoming known as ‘Mother’s ruin’.

Why does tonic water taste like grapefruit?

In simple terms, classic tonic water is carbonated water infused with quinine. For added taste sometimes sugar or fruit acids are mixed in. The higher the level of quinine in the water, the more bitter it tastes.

Why is tonic water Gross?

The reason tonic tastes so bitter and disgusting is that it contains quinine, a medicine that was used as anti-malarial treatment in the 19th and early 20th centuries and is still recommended today in severe cases.

Is gin and tonic British?

The cocktail was introduced by the army of the British East India Company in India. British officers in India in the early 19th century took to adding a mixture of water, sugar, lime and gin to the quinine in order to make the drink more palatable, thus gin and tonic was born.

Is gin and tonic a British drink?

What did the English soldiers call gin?