Cinchona is a genus of flowering plants from the Rubiaceae family. While the foliage is evergreen, its bark is what makes the Cinchona plant significant. Cinchona Bark contains quinine, an effective remedy for treating malaria. It lends its bitter taste to a variety of products, including tonic water, bitter liqueurs, vermouth and other fortified wines. This woody, dusty bark can be quite tannic and is considered by some to be a “pure bitter” without specific flavor.