Tonik

Tonik is a term used in several languages to refer to tonic products, including tonic water and various health tonics. It derives from the English word tonic, itself from French tonique and ultimately Greek tonos, meaning tone or strength.

In beverages, tonik commonly denotes tonic water, a carbonated drink flavored with quinine and sweeteners, traditionally used as a mixer in cocktails such as gin and tonic. Many markets also sell flavored toniks, herbal or citrus blends, and pre-mixed ready-to-drink tonics.

In medical and traditional contexts, tonik can refer to preparations claimed to restore health, vitality, or balance. Medicinal tonics may contain herbs, minerals, vitamins, caffeine, or other stimulants. In modern pharmacology, tonics are often described as supplements or wellness products rather than medicines for a specific condition.

History and regional usage: Modern tonic water emerged in the 19th century in Britain as a vehicle for quinine-based malaria prophylaxis, later sweetened and marketed as a mixer. The word tonik is widely used in languages such as Turkish, Polish, and Indonesian to mean tonic products, and in those contexts can denote both beverages and medicinal preparations.

See also Tonic water and Tonic (disambiguation).