What is Tonic Water?
Tonic water is a carbonated soft drink in which quinine is dissolved. Originally used as a prophylactic against malaria, tonic water usually now has a significantly lower quinine content and is consumed for its distinctive bitter flavor. It is often used in mixed drinks, particularly in gin and tonic.
Tonic water contains carbonated water, citric acid, preservatives, sweeteners, and flavoring agents. The key ingredient that provides the bitter taste is quinine, which is added in small amounts. Quinine was originally isolated from the bark of the cinchona tree and was the first effective treatment for malaria.
Types of Sweeteners Used in Tonic Water
There are several different types of sweeteners that can be used to sweeten tonic water:
- High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) – HFCS is a liquid sweetener made from corn starch. It is commonly used as a sweetener in processed foods and soft drinks. Some brands use HFCS to sweeten their tonic water.
- Sugar – Plain white granulated sugar is also commonly used to sweeten tonic water.
- Artificial sweeteners – Some diet/low-calorie tonic waters are sweetened with artificial sweeteners like aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, or stevia.
- Agave syrup – This natural sweetener extracted from agave plants is sometimes used as an alternative natural sweetener.
- Honey – Some tonics are sweetened with a bit of honey rather than HFCS or plain sugar.
So in summary, not all tonic waters contain high fructose corn syrup. HFCS is used in some mass produced brands to provide the sweetness, but other alternatives like plain sugar, natural sweeteners, and artificial sweeteners are also used. You have to check the ingredients list to know for sure what sweetener is used.
Why Do Some Tonic Waters Contain HFCS?
There are a few reasons why high fructose corn syrup is sometimes used as the sweetener in tonic water:
- Cost – HFCS is cheaper to produce than cane or beet sugar. This makes it economically favorable for large beverage producers.
- Sweetness – HFCS is sweeter than plain sugar, so less of it needs to be used to achieve the same level of sweetness.
- Texture – HFCS thickens the solution slightly so it has more body than just carbonated water and quinine.
- Flavor enhancement – HFCS can enhance certain flavors in soft drinks.
- Solubility – HFCS mixes easily into carbonated beverages.
Mass produced tonic water brands often use HFCS so they can save on costs and achieve the preferred sweetness, viscosity, and flavor profile that consumers expect from a tonic water. However, many smaller craft brands opt to use natural cane sugar or other sweeteners instead.
Potential Downsides of HFCS in Tonic Water
While HFCS provides some advantages in terms of cost and taste for large producers, there are some potential downsides that should be considered:
- Health concerns – There are conflicting studies on the health impacts of HFCS vs. natural sweeteners. Some research has linked regular consumption of HFCS to increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
- Consumer demand – Many consumers actively try to avoid HFCS due to health concerns and seek tonic waters with natural sweeteners instead.
- Less complexity – While HFCS amplifies sweetness efficiently, some feel it provides a flatter, less nuanced flavor than sugar.
- Artificial taste – To some consumers, HFCS can give tonic water an artificial, overly-sweet taste compared to sugar’s more natural flavor.
Due to these concerns, there has been a shift in recent years towards craft tonic waters made with natural cane sugar, honey, agave, and other alternative sweeteners to cater to consumer demand.
Popular Tonic Water Brands That Use HFCS
Some of the most popular mass-produced tonic water brands use high fructose corn syrup as the primary sweetener:
- Schweppes
- Canada Dry
- Seagram’s
- Syfo (Dr Pepper Snapple Group brand)
- Faygo
- A-Treat (select flavors)
Checking the ingredients lists of these brands confirms they are sweetened with HFCS. The exact HFCS content can vary, but is typically around 40-50g per 12oz serving.
So when buying major brands like Schweppes or Canada Dry at your local supermarket, you can expect the tonic water contains HFCS unless noted otherwise.
Popular Tonic Waters that Do NOT Contain HFCS
There are also many popular tonic water brands that specifically do not use HFCS:
- Fentimans – Uses natural cane sugar
- Fever Tree – Uses cane sugar
- Q Tonic – Sweetened with organic agave
- East Imperial – Uses cane sugar
- Bufala Negra – Sweetened with honey
- Zevia – Uses stevia for zero calorie tonic
- Hansen’s – Uses cane sugar
- Rock & Rye – Sweetened with organic cane sugar
- Jack Rudy – Sweetened with agave syrup
These craft tonics emphasize their use of natural alternative sweeteners instead of HFCS. They are produced in smaller batches and positioned as premium drink mixers.
Reading the labels of these tonics indicates they are indeed sweetened with cane sugar, agave, stevia, honey, and other HFCS-free alternatives. So opting for one of these specialty brands is a good way to avoid HFCS in your tonic water.
How to Check if a Tonic Water Contains HFCS
To check if a particular tonic water brand contains HFCS, simply read the ingredient label on the bottle or can.
HFCS may be listed under various names, including:
- High fructose corn syrup
- Glucose-fructose syrup
- Isoglucose
- Glucose syrup
- Corn syrup
So look for those terms in the ingredients list. If you see them, then that tonic water contains HFCS. If they are not listed, then the tonic is sweetened with something else like cane sugar.
Some other things to look for:
- Natural Sweeteners – Scan for terms like “cane sugar”, “organic agave”, or “honey”.
- Artificial Sweeteners – Words like “aspartame”, “sucralose”, “stevia” indicate artificial sweeteners instead of HFCS.
- Calorie Count – Full sugar tonic waters have around 130 calories per serving. Diet/low-calorie tonics with artificial sweeteners may have less than 15 calories.
So checking both the ingredients list and nutrition facts can confirm whether a particular tonic water contains high fructose corn syrup or not. When in doubt, contacting the manufacturer directly can also determine if their tonic contains HFCS.
High Fructose Corn Syrup Content in Popular Tonic Waters
Here is a table comparing the approximate HFCS content in a 12 oz serving of some popular tonic water brands:
| Tonic Water Brand | HFCS per 12oz |
|---|---|
| Schweppes | 44g |
| Canada Dry | 48g |
| Seagram’s | 42g |
| Fentimans | 0g |
| Fever Tree | 0g |
| Q Tonic | 0g |
This makes it clear that the major brands contain significant amounts of HFCS as their primary sweetener. The craft tonics use alternative natural sweeteners instead.
Should You Avoid Tonic Waters with HFCS?
Whether you should avoid tonic waters containing HFCS comes down to personal preferences and health considerations:
- Flavor – If you notice an unpleasant artificial taste from HFCS tonics, switching to a natural sweetener brand can provide a cleaner, crisper flavor.
- Health – If limiting added sugars and HFCS in your diet, choose brands without it. Some studies link excess HFCS to negative impacts.
- Mixing – When making G&Ts or other cocktails, a good HFCS-free tonic can elevate the drink experience.
- Price – Craft tonics cost more than mass brands, so HFCS tonics may be preferred for economic reasons.
- Availability – In some cases, HFCS-sweetened tonics may be the only options available.
There are decent arguments on both sides. In the end, it comes down to making an informed choice based on your taste preferences, budget, and health goals. Consider trying some craft cocktails with a quality HFCS-free tonic to appreciate the flavor.
How to Choose a Tonic Water without HFCS
Here are some tips for choosing a tonic water without high fructose corn syrup:
- Read the ingredients – Scan for HFCS and natural sweetener keywords as discussed earlier.
- Research brands – Consult lists of tonics without HFCS or visit the brand websites to check.
- Buy specialty brands – Seek smaller craft producers focusing on natural ingredients.
- Shop specialty stores – Health foods markets and liquor stores cater more to quality craft tonics than big supermarket chains.
- Check country of origin – Some European brands use sugar rather than HFCS more commonly.
- Avoid generic tonics – Unbranded grocery store generics often contain HFCS.
Searching for “HFCS free tonic” online can also help surface quality options. With a bit of research, you can find delicious craft-made tonics using organic sweeteners instead of controversial high fructose corn syrup.
Conclusion
Not all tonic waters contain high fructose corn syrup, but many major mass-produced brands like Schweppes and Canada Dry do use HFCS as the primary sweetener.
Craft tonics from companies like Fever-Tree, Q Tonic, and others instead sweeten their products with cane sugar, agave, stevia, honey, and other natural alternatives to HFCS.
Reading the ingredients label on any tonic water will reveal whether it contains HFCS or not. There are decent arguments on both sides regarding taste preferences, health considerations, and economics.
In the end, the choice comes down to personal priorities. With a bit of research, though, you can easily find quality tonic waters sweetened without controversial high fructose corn syrup.
