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Hey everyone. I've seen quite a few threads about beverage choices, so I'd like to pass along something I've found to be a pretty "lyme safe" drink.
Q Tonic - (www.qtonic.com). Quinine has long been known to be a treatment for a variety of illnesses, including its most famous use as a cure for Malaria, in sufficient concentration. While the native peoples of the Americas have used it as medicine for centuries, it was not formally introduced to the west until sailors and explorers learned of its curative properties.
Today, most brands of tonic water, used as a popular mixer for many alcoholic beverages, are horrible for you. They often use artificially derived quinine sources, and pour in a ton of high fructose corn syrup to counteract the bitterness. Look on the label sometime, and you'll find that despite its bitter taste the stuff typically has more sugar than soda!
Enter: Q tonic. It seems some enterprising individuals from New York have set up selling a variety of tonic made with real quinine, and only lightly sweetened by the use of organic agave nectar. I don't surmise that the amount of quinine in tonic water is therapeutic, but it certainly can't hurt you and may give another beverage choice for the hot summer.
Q Tonic recently became available in my area (The website has a handy "where to buy" section) so here is what I've found to be the pros and cons of Q Tonic.
Pros: Tastes great! Not too bitter, even with a fraction of the sweetener in conventional tonic. Comes in elegantly designed glass bottles, goes excellently with a twist of lemon or lime. Real Quinine. Organic. Agave nectar sweetened. No high fructose corn syrup.
Cons: Expensive. Q Tonic is clearly made and marketed more for the connoisseur of fine spirits then the "health food crowd". Glass bottles and top quality ingredients don't come cheap. A case of 4 12oz bottles is roughly $6.99-8.99. It is not entirely sugar free, for those who have completely eliminated sugars from their diet.
If you can handle the expense, and would like a little variety in lyme-safe beverages, give Q Tonic a look. I have a call in to the producer to see if they would be willing to sell in high volume or "stripped down" packaging for the "health food" market in the hopes that it will become more affordable without the couture-level bottles.
Disclaimer: I've been around long enough here I think most you know I'm not a shill for any particular company. If you know my posting history, you know I'm skeptical and suspicious as any good scientist should be - This is not an endorsement of the beverage as a treatment, just as a refreshing drink for those that like tonic water Posts: 690 | From East coast, USA | Registered: Jun 2006
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