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