A Remedy Born from Loss
In 1885, Edwin Wiley Grove introduced a medicinal syrup designed to make quinine bearable. After losing his wife and daughter to malaria, Grove set out to create a remedy that masked the bitterness of the life-saving drug. The result was Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic, a blend of quinine, cinchonine, reduced iron, and lemon-flavored syrup. Though not entirely tasteless, it became a national sensation.
A Bottle That Outsold Coca-Cola
By 1890, Grove’s tonic was reportedly outselling Coca-Cola. The product was marketed not only for malaria but also as a general health enhancer. Its advertisements featured a baby’s head on a pig’s body with the slogan “make your children as fat as pigs,” becoming widely recognized across the country.
Expanding the Formula
In 1896, Grove released Laxative Bromo Quinine tablets, combining quinine with bromide, a sedative, and laxatives. He also moved production to St. Louis to ease nationwide distribution.
Building More Than Medicine
Grove’s profits funded schools, churches, and entire neighborhoods. In Asheville, North Carolina, he constructed The Grove Park Inn in 1913 and later began building the Grove Arcade, completed in 1929, marking the physical legacy of his pharmaceutical success.
In 1885, after losing his wife and daughter to malaria, Edwin Wiley Grove created a syrup to mask the bitter taste of quinine.
Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic was born—a flavored, iron-rich remedy that soon rivaled Coca-Cola in national sales…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/VKXEBrWw2i
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) April 23, 2025