A Little Bitterness Is Important
As it turned out, our panel liked most of the tonic waters we tried; finding them all acceptably fizzy. Tasters’ ratings varied, however, depending on the flavor of the tonic.
Not surprisingly, considering the historic use of quinine as a flavoring agent, tasters expected and preferred tonic waters that were moderately bitter. Too much bitterness, as in our two least favorite products, was “off-putting,” making for “strange, sharp, astringent” tonics. Too little bitterness, on the other hand, made for tonic water that was palatable but “not very memorable” and a bit “bland” both plain and in a gin and tonic. Overall, tasters liked tonic waters that were “slightly bitter” but not “overpowering.”
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