Cinchona bark is found in 23 species of trees and shrubs from South America, although some species and hybrids have been found in various other continents. Historically Cinchona bark was foraged for its medicinal value as it makes quinine, the only effective treatment to Malaria during the height of European Colonialism causing its worth to soar. Quinine is now used mostly for the distinctly bitter flavour it gives to tonic water. We use Cinchona as the bark combined with our citrusy rum adds a complex and spicy finish.
Fun fact: Cinchona bark was replaced with synthetic quinine in 1944 to treat malaria however malaria evolved and now has a resistance to synthetic quinine. This has caused Cinchona cultivation to become as important as it previously was due to it showing to still be effective in the fight against this newer falciparum malaria.
