This is due to the medicine ‘Quinine’ which is given as the treatment for malaria. It is a traditional treatment for the disease and tastes quite bitter. It occurs naturally in tonic water and is taken well diluted with loads of gin and a slice of lemon. Quinine is an anti-malarial drug that comes from the bark of the cinchona tree. Very small amounts are used for flavouring tonic water.
Why does a person, down with malaria, feel a bitter taste?
