Tonic Water & Safe Quinine Levels

[Hebden]

Hi all,

I'm going to try and contribute something useful to the site for once. Lots of people here must be producing gin and therefore some are producing tonic to acompany it. Tonic water is made with Quinine which has potential negative side effects, therefore the FDA has limited Quinine in tonic water to 83 parts per million (ppm)

I have decide to make my own tonic water and wanted to be safe, not tried the tonic water end product yet, but will share the recipe and the mathematics.
The Quinine in Tonic water is derived from Cinchona Bark. The concentration of Quinine in Cinchona Bark is <5%, if you want the most accurate reading of quinine in your end product, your best using powder.
If you purchased bark, you can grind it in a coffee grinder or you can use bark, it is unlikely that you will extract more quinine from bark than you will from powder, so this will be safe to use as a substitute, but your quinine levels in your product will likely be lower than if you had used powder.

The Recipe:
• 4 cups water
• 1/4 cup (1 ounce/20 grams) cinchona bark, powdered (use a coffee grinder)
• 1/4 cup citric acid, also known as lemon salt
• 3 limes, only the peeled zests
• 3 lemons, only the peeled zests
• 1 grapefruit, only the peeled zests
• 1 cup chopped lemongrass (3-4 stalks)
• 9 whole allspice berries
• 6 whole cardamom pods
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon lavender

• Simple syrup
two parts sugar to one of boiling water, I suggest 4 sugar, 2 water & 1/4 tsp citric acid stirred to dissolve, simmer until 240f

Method
• In a covered saucepan, bring all ingredients except the simple syrup to a boil and reduce heat immediately; simmer on low for a half hour, then remove from heat and allow to cool fully.
• Transfer to a carafe or jar and chill for two days.
• Strain through a superfine chinois or cheesecloth, or by using a plunger press coffee maker.
• Return to the carafe and refrigerate for a day or two, allowing sediment to accumulate on bottom.
• When the layer of sediment seems stable, gently decant off the clearer liquid without disturbing the sediment “mud.”
• It should be about 3 cups at this point (I was closer to 2 1/2); add to this liquid an equal measure of simple syrup, mixing well. Funnel into a clean, cappable bottle and refrigerate.
• Makes roughly 6 cups or 1.5 liters. This will vary and so will your maths.

Quinine Levels:
So the recipe uses 20g Cinchona @~5% Quinine - YOU HAVE 1g Quinine in your final product "whatever the volume".
Source: https://www.alcademics.com/2014/08/pote ... water.html

To calculate down to 83ppm in your Tonic Water:-

Ppm Calculation

• (1g / finished product volume) * 1,000,000 = ppm
• So say your simmered ingredients = 625ml + your simple sugar = 625ml = 1,250ml finished product of Qunine Syrup
• (1g / 1,250) * 1,000,000 = Quinine Syrup @ 800ppm

This is just the Quinine Syrup ppm though, your finished tonic is a combination of Quinine Syrup + Soda, so the maths continues.
For me, I have a soda stream which has 1L bottles which I will use to make my carbonated Tonic water in. 1L of tonic is plenty for my average gin session even if I have a heavy night, but if I have guests, you’ll have a spare 1L bottle.

So I want to mix Quinine Syrup + Soda to make 1L of tonic at 83 ppm, maths:-

• 800ppm / 83ppm = 9.64:1 ratio (total 10.64 parts)
• That means you need 964ml Soda to 100ml Quinine Syrup to = 83ppm Quinine in your tonic
• 1,000ml end product tonic / 10.64 = 906ml Soda : 94ml Quinine Syrup = 9.64:1 = 83ppm

EDIT: I would just like to add that Quinine is insoluble in water, it is soluble in ethanol.!
And so:-
You could extract the quinine using by infusing say 100ml strong ethanol to said 20g cinchona powder before adding it to
recipes whereby Quinine is added to a water based pre-sugar syrup stage of a recipe. That would make it a 3 stage cook but would result in a higher likelihood of quinine entering your tonic at calculated levels.
(but your tonic would now be alcoholic).


If there are any mistakes, please let me know and I will edit the original post.

[Metalking00]

Thanks for the recipe, ill have to try it out.

You do yours a bit differently than I do mine. I make a tincture with the cinchona and then add it to the syrup base afterwards. (As you mentioned in your edit)

Heres how I do it (not trying to one-up you, just think maybe someone would like to see the other way). I didnt come up with the recipe, but i dont remember where i got it.

6g powdered cinchona
150ml neutral (diluted to 40%)
.5 L water
400g sugar
10g gentian root
20g citric acid
30g lemon peel
30g grapefruit peel
2g ceylon cinnamon (broken)

Steep the cinchona in neutral and then filter resulting liquid through coffee filters.

Put the other ingredients in a pan and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 20 min. Cool and strain into a glass bottle. Add 45ml of cinchona tincture to bottle.

Remaining cinchona tincture is shelf stable and can be saved for 2 more batches.

I have no idea about the quinine levels in this recipe, never thought about it.

[SaltyStaves]

The concentration of Quinine depends on the bark. I have Succirubra, which has the highest concentration.
I don't use it as powder and I go by weight when making my tonic.

I also don't consume more than two glasses in a single session and I make sure to have nights off after I've enjoyed it. The cumulative effect should be accounted for. Cinchonism is no joke.

[Hebden]

Thanks for the recipe, ill have to try it out.

You do yours a bit differently than I do mine. I make a tincture with the cinchona and then add it to the syrup base afterwards. (As you mentioned in your edit)

Heres how I do it (not trying to one-up you, just think maybe someone would like to see the other way). I didnt come up with the recipe, but i dont remember where i got it.

No worries MetalKing, the more Tonic recipes the better, there are not enough on the web. Your recipe is a Jeffrey Morganthaler recipe btw.

The tincture came about in his 2014 revision of his original 2008 recipe whereby he was well over FDA quinine safe limits.
So, he reduced cinchona from "a cup" within the recipe to 6g in a tincture.

2008 Original recipe linked in this article:-
https://www.alcademics.com/2014/08/pote ... nic.%C2%A0

2014 Revised Recipe:-
https://food52.com/recipes/29614-quinine-syrup

I have calculated ppm for "just that tincture", it is bang on 2,000 ppm believe it or not. It is far different when mixed though.

The JM recipe suggest 45ml of his tincture is mixed into the recipe you've listed. So how much flavoured sugar water did you get in which the 45ml of tincture gets put into?

If the recipe makes:-
1Liter (including tincture), then the overall quinine product is 300ppm
If the overall recipe makes 750ml (including tincture), then your quinine levels are 400 ppm

Mixed with soda ~2.x:1 or ~3.x:1, these will be close to FDA limits and safe enough I'd guess.

[Metalking00]

The JM recipe suggest 45ml of his tincture is mixed into the recipe you've listed. So how much flavoured sugar water did you get in which the 45ml of tincture gets put into?

If the recipe makes:-
1Liter (including tincture), then the overall quinine product is 300ppm
If the overall recipe makes 750ml (including tincture), then your quinine levels are 400 ppm

Mixed with soda ~2.x:1 or ~3.x:1, these will be close to FDA limits and safe enough I'd guess.

I just made another batch of this and once complete it filled a 750ml bottle almost perfectly.

[Hebden]

I just made another batch of this and once complete it filled a 750ml bottle almost perfectly.

At what point do you mix with soda MK, when I mixed mine with water and then added gas, it was a right eruption. So it is probably best adding the mix to fizzy soda as you drink is it?

[Metalking00]

I mix it together one drink at a time

[Hebden]

Just tried the dissolving of quinine in ethanol, has anyone got a proven method?

I placed 25g quinine (edit to clarify powder) into 100ml 95% ethanol. Placed on radiator and swirl each time I passed. 12hrs later and it's not what I'd call dissolved.

Or is the quinine dissolved into the ethanol leaving a useless solid behind? And I should just filter out the solids?

[Hebden]

Found three methods of extraction here:-

Three methods to extracting quinine from cinchona bark
Quinine is a valuable alkaloid found in the bark of the cinchona tree. For centuries, it has been used for its medicinal properties, particularly in the treatment of malaria. If you're interested in harnessing the benefits of quinine or simply curious about the extraction process, this article will guide you through three different methods for extracting quinine from cinchona bark.

1. Cold Extraction (Brewyo Preferred!)
Duration: 72 hours
Process: Shaking daily, followed by filtration
Cold extraction is a popular method, especially for those looking to preserve the delicate flavors and aromas of quinine. Here's how to do it:

Materials Needed:

Cinchona bark
Water
A glass container
A fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
Patience
Step-by-Step:

Grind the cinchona bark into a coarse powder.
Place the bark in a glass container.
Add water to the container until the bark is submerged.
Seal the container and store it in a cool, dark place for 72 hours. Shake the container daily to ensure proper extraction.
After 72 hours, strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove any solid particles.
This method is preferred by homebrew enthusiasts for its simplicity and effectiveness.

2. Boiling Water Extraction
Process: Boil and infuse until cool
Boiling water extraction is a straightforward method that doesn't require special equipment. Here's how to do it:

Materials Needed:

Cinchona bark
Water
A pot
A fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
Step-by-Step:

Grind the cinchona bark into a coarse powder.
Place the bark in a pot.
Add water to the pot, enough to cover the bark.
Bring the water to a boil.
Reduce the heat and let the mixture simmer for about 30 minutes.
Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool.
Strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove any solid particles.
This method is a quicker way to extract quinine, making it suitable for those with limited time.

3. Basic Solution (High pH) and Temperature Elevation
Warning: be wary of this approach in making the end product food safe and palatable
Process: Store in an alcohol or solution to preserve
The basic solution method involves altering the pH of the extraction process to make quinine more soluble. Here's how it's done:

Materials Needed:

Cinchona bark
Basic solution (e.g. baking soda or soda ash)
High proof Alcohol
A glass container
Step-by-Step:

Grind the cinchona bark into a coarse powder.
Place the bark in a glass container.
Add a basic solution (using baking soda or soda ash) to the container. The basic solution helps increase the solubility of quinine.
Seal the container and let it sit for several hours.
Afterward, add high proof alcohol to the mixture to extract the quinine.
Store the resulting solution in a cool, dark place.
This method is effective for preserving the extracted quinine over an extended period.

In conclusion, extracting quinine from cinchona bark can be accomplished through various methods, each with its advantages. Whether you choose the gentle cold extraction, the simple boiling water method, or the chemistry-based approach with a basic solution, you can unlock the potential of this valuable alkaloid for various applications, from medicinal to culinary. Remember to exercise caution and respect local regulations when handling cinchona bark and its extracts.

By following these methods, you can embark on your journey to harness the power of quinine in a safe and effective manner. Enjoy your experimentation, and always remember to use quinine responsibly and in accordance with local laws and guidelines.

[antoRCB]

Hey Hebden, I’ve tried the ethanol method before with some success, but yeah, it’s not a perfect solution. From my experience, the solid you’re seeing is most likely the undissolved bark material. Quinine dissolves in ethanol, but it's not super fast, and you definitely won’t get a complete dissolution like you would with something super soluble.

I'd say give it more time and a bit more heat (but not too much), and then filter it out. The quinine will be in the ethanol, and the leftover solids are just waste. If it still doesn’t look fully dissolved, you could try filtering with coffee filters or even a vacuum filter if you have one. That usually helps clear out the excess junk.

Also, I’ve read that if you add a touch of citric acid after filtering, it can help pull the rest of the alkaloid out more effectively. Just be careful, and definitely filter it well before using it! Let me know how it goes!

[jimvaan]

Just to add, it's probably best practice to not bring the water or alcohol to boling but to hold at 60 degrees Celsius or 140 Fahrenheit for an extended period will result in better leching of quinine instead of its optical isomer quinidine which appears in almost equal quantities with quinine in the cinchona genus.