PHOTOGRAPH: STOCKSY
Gin seems to have originated in Holland, but found its real status in London in the late 18th century, with distilleries all over the city. Originally, gin emerged as more of a medicinal tonic thought to alleviate circulatory issues and, later, the notorious G&T found a place in warding off malaria for soldiers during colonial times – attributed more to the quinine in the tonic, but the gin could have helped, too.
Back then, gin was a far cry from the artisan botanical blends that are now available, but one of the original ingredients, juniper berries, still remains a key flavour in today’s drink. In fact the word ‘gin’ derives from the Dutch word for juniper – jenever. These small and mighty berries provide antioxidant benefits that help prevent damage and ageing to cells, as well as being linked to reducing inflammation. Because of their natural bitter flavour, juniper berries can also aid digestion by supporting the increase of digestive enzymes and gastric-juice secretion to optimise the breakdown of food and prevent issues such as bloating or reflux. Since the berries act as a diuretic, they can also help to prevent water retention.