India (Rajasthan): the bark of this tree was eaten during the severe famines of1899 and ... The bark has an astringent, bitter taste and is reported to cause grippeing. (Rajasthan, western ): unripe ...

Adam Hart-Davis explains how the discovery that a bitter tree bark could protect against malaria lead to the invention of ‘gin and tonic’ (the drink was designed to disguise the bitter taste).