Homemade Tonic Water

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Servings: 24
Yield: 24 servings

Description

This homemade tonic syrup, a sweet blend of cinchona bark, lemon grass, lime, and citric acid, makes the most delicious gin and tonics ever!

Ingredients

4 cups water
3 cups white sugar
3 limes, zested and juiced
3 stalks lemon grass, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
6 tablespoons citric acid powder
3 tablespoons powdered cinchona bark

Directions

1 Bring water and sugar to a boil in a saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves.
2 Reduce heat to low; stir in lime zest, lime juice, lemon grass, citric acid, and powdered cinchona bark. Simmer until cinchona is thoroughly dissolved, about 30 minutes.
3 Remove from heat; let mixture cool, about 15 minutes. Strain through a colander. Run the syrup through coffee filters or cheesecloth to remove sandy bits of bark.