WASHINGTON — If you’re looking for a quick boost of energy, make a tonic — just hold the gin.
Unlike tonic water — that bitter beverage poured at the bar — tonics are more of a cure-what-ails you beverage, typically made from herbs, roots, fruits and vegetables.
Cultures around the world have been turning to tonics for centuries, but the elixir is enjoying a culinary comeback thanks to a renewed interest in wellness and foods that heal. Tonics even topped the list of Whole Foods’ predictions for top food trends for 2017.
Violaine Orban has been making tonics in D.C. since 2011 when she launched her company Goûter.
“It’s not a pretty story,” Orban said about her reason for starting the business. “I hate telling it because who likes to talk about when they were sick?”
The D.C. resident left the hospital five years ago with an ulcer and a lifetime prescription of antacids — “which I thought was the worst thing ever,” Orban added.
Before she popped open the pills, she opened a web browser and researched how to reduce acidity in the body naturally. That led her to a lifestyle filled with alkaline water — or water with a basic pH (9.5) — and superfood supplements such as blue-green algae and turmeric.
Orban started mixing the alkaline water and the natural supplements together and the rest is history.
“I’ve never felt better; I’ve never had more energy,” Orban said.
Now, Goûter presses and bottles eight different types of organic tonics at Union Kitchen in Ivy City, and sells them in more than 20 locations throughout D.C., Maryland and Virginia. The tonics contain ingredients such as cold-pressed lemon juice, cold-pressed kale, dandelion root and ginger. Cayenne pepper gives them a kick and coconut nectar gives them a touch of sweetness.
Unlike cold-pressed juices, tonics are light, hydrating and, as Orban describes, “chuggable.” They’re meant to be consumed in place of an afternoon coffee rather than in place of lunch.
“I always tell people before or after a workout, especially in the summer when you just sweat it all out, I chug one of these, and then I’m like, ‘Oh, maybe I can run another 3 miles,’” Orban said.
A 12-ounce Goûter tonic costs about $7. Tonics are also simple to make at home and require few ingredients. But you’ll have to borrow Orban’s alkaline water machine to get the full benefits of a basic beverage.
Try these tonic recipes from Bon Appétit:
