Tonic Syrup

Name: Tonic Syrup
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup Red Cinchona Bark; 2 pinches Lemongrass (dried); 12 Allspice Berries (dried); 6 cups Water; 2 tbsp Citric Acid; 2 tsp Sea Salt; 2 Cups Sugar

Upscale your G&T's with some homemade tonic mix

John DrummondWritten 24 December 2017

A bottle of gin, a jar of orange tonic syrup labelled Tonic, a lime and a glass — Photographed in JD’s kitchen

Prep10min

Cook20min

All up30min

LevelEasy

1/4 cup of Red Cinchona Bark 1 pinch of Lemongrass 5-10 Allspice Berries 3 cups of water 1 cup of sugar 1 tbsp Citric Acid 1 tsp salt

1/4 Cup (30g) Red Cinchona Bark (Cinchona Succirubra) – Roughly chopped 1/2 tsp Masterfood’s Lemongrass & Chili 1/2 tsp Masterfood’s Allspice 3 Cups Water 1/2 Cup Sugar 1 tbsp Citric Acid 1 tsp Salt

Medium Simmer for 30 Minutes* Too long (1 1/4 cup in total – back to 20 minutes)

1st one tasted better (still a bit too sweet and maybe could be a little more bitter)

Difference were chopped Cinchona bark instead of nurtablasting (original was a much richer red)

Maybe stick with the original recipe, but a bit less sugar next run.

The method

Three moves.

Syrup, Boil
In a large saucepan with the water, add the Cinchona Bark, dried Allspice berries and dried lemongrass. Bring to the boil and reduce to a medium simmer for 20 minutes.
Syrup, Strain
Strain the mixture through some cheesecloth or a clean cotton tea-towel using a sieve into a clean bowl. Discard the bark, clean the saucepan and return the filtered mixture to the heat.
Syrup, Sweeten
Add sugar, Citric Acid and salt. Heat and stir until dissolved. 2-3 minutes.