SCRAPBOOK
MELZER IN LIFE
NEW PACKAGING FOR A GREENER WORLD
Contrary to common believe glass bottles isn’t necessarily better for the environment then aluminium cans. It’s quite the opposite actually. A can is more likely to get recycled and requires much less energy in the process then recycling glass bottles. The handling, transport and storage has a much smaller carbon footprint then bottles due to its light weight and functional format.
This is why Melzer’s Nordic Tonic Water comes in a 200 ml slim can, for a greener world.
WHY DISTILLED QUININE IS SUPERIOR
- AND WHY TO STAY AWAY FROM THE BROWN TONIC SYRUP
Why do we love the flavor of tonic? The bitters taste of quinine of course.
Natural quinine extracted from cinchona bark is a difficult flavor to extract. Here we will clarify the difference between the processes.
CHEMICAL QUININE (COMMERCIAL QUININE)
The majority of all tonic brands use chemical quinine. That means quinine that shares the same chemical compound as natural quinine but made in a laboratory. Chemical quinine does the trick. Most brands use it, even the "premium" ones. Our only problem with it is that is not natural, it has never been an organic compound.
If you want to use natural quinine there is really two options. macerated (infused) cinchona bark (Peruvian bark) or distilled cinchona bark.
MACERATED QUININE (THE BROWN STUFF)
Soaking powdered cinchona bark to extract quinine is the easiest way make tonic at home. It doesn't require any specific tool or know-how. The result is a brown liquid that taste like bitter dirt and dust. We want to give a special warning to tonic waters and tonic syrups using this method.To obtain a real bitter kick you have got to use a lot of bark. With that comes the unpleasant earthy and dusty flavors that you don't associate with tonic water. Quinine is a poison and should be consumed in very small quantities and it needs to be measured and controlled before sold to the public. There is no way of controlling the amount of quinine consumed by a customer when they mix their own tonic using a concentrated syrup. Over dosing is common and will make you nauseous and with a splitting headache.
Marketing it as "true" "original" or "real" is a cheap trick to make homemade syrup, that is potentially poisons, seem like premium tonic water. Stay away from it unless they have proof of control.
DISTILLED QUININE
Distilling is the best method to purify and concentrate a flavor. It is used when making perfume, spirits and flavors / aromas for the food and beverage market. It is a difficult and expensive process and many times you will have to use alcohol to extract the flavors. The upside is that you get a completely clear liquid that has such a strong and pure taste that a few drops is enough to get the right quinine flavor and bitterness to a serve of tonic water.
At Melzer all our quinine comes from cinchona bark that we distill on site at Hven. Actually all our flavors and aromas are distilled from certified organic botanicals and spices. From a seed to your glass, natural, pure and organic.