The Fever Tree Cure

The tale of quinine—the first effective malaria treatment—starts not in a lab, but deep in South America's rainforests. For centuries, Indigenous people in Peru used bark from the cinchona, or “fever tree,” to treat chills and fevers. They didn’t know it contained quinine; they just knew it worked.

Jesuits and Jungle Medicine

In the 1600s, Jesuit missionaries learned about the remedy from locals. One Jesuit reportedly cured his malaria by drinking bark-infused water. Word spread. The bark, dubbed “Jesuit’s Powder” or “Peruvian bark,” made its way to Europe.

From Bark to Breakthrough

By the 1800s, scientists isolated quinine, discovering it killed malaria parasites in the blood. Suddenly, this folk cure became a scientific weapon—so vital that it fueled European colonial ventures in malaria-prone regions.

The Bitter Birth of a Classic Drink

Quinine was bitter, so British officers in India mixed it with gin. Thus, the gin and tonic was born—not just a cocktail, but a colonial-era health hack. Today’s tonic water barely contains quinine, but the drink remains a fizzy reminder of a lifesaving discovery.