SIMPLE HOMEMADE TONIC SYRUP
It makes about 500 ml, enough for 20 large G&Ts using the G&T recipe below. It should keep in the fridge for a few weeks.
40 g cut (not powdered) cinchona bark
360 g cold water
220 g caster sugar
6.5 g citric acid
Put the bark in a saucepan, add the water, then bring to the boil. Turn off the heat, put the lid on the pan and leave for 20 minutes.
Strain the liquid into a jug through a muslin cloth (or use 3 layers of unused J cloth).
Add the sugar and citric acid. Stir, leave to cool, then pour into a sterilised bottle or bottles. Yes, it’s really that simple.
Gin and tonic using this simple homemade tonic syrup (recommended proportions for a G&T):
25 ml tonic water syrup
50 ml gin
75 ml soda water
lemon or lime wedge
Put ice in a glass, add the syrup, gin and soda water, then give it a good stir.
Squeeze in a little juice from the citrus.
Recipe posted by Amanda Conradie
