Bitter lemon

For the autobiography by Lawrence Durrell, see Bitter Lemons. For the publisher, see Bitter Lemon Press.

Bitter lemon is a bitter lemon flavoured soft drink. Its signature taste is a result of inherently bitter lemon pith being reinforced by the bitter alkaloid quinine.

Schweppes Bitter Lemon. Vintage bottle shown.

The principal difference between tonic water and bitter lemon is the lemon juice, pith, and peel. The juice adds sour, offset by additional sweetener, and the oily peel fragrance.

The generic bitter lemon drink dates back to 1834.^[1] Schweppes introduced its brand of bitter lemon in 1957.^[2]

Bitter lemon is consumed both by itself and as a mixer, and is sold around the world.^[3]

Notable brands

Schweppes cans

• Schweppes
• Fever-Tree
• Canada Dry
• Gini
• Royal Club
• Polar Beverages

See also

• Drink portal

• List of lemon dishes and beverages