A 19th-century recipe discovered that may be the precursor to modern Coca-Cola

A 19th-century recipe believed to have been used in a monastery pharmacy in Florence has surfaced, potentially offering new insights into the origins of modern Coca-Cola. The discovery was made by Dominican friar Manuel Russo, who found the document among old records. According to Russo, the recipe describes a so-called “strengthening wine elixir” made from coca leaves and cola nut. This elixir was one of the most sold products in the monastery’s apothecary during its time, according to reports from the Italian newspaper Toscana Oggi. The cola nuts, which are seeds of the cola tree native to tropical rainforests of Africa, contain caffeine and have long been used as flavorings in various carbonated soft drinks. Until recently, the history of Coca-Cola was thought to begin in 1886, when American pharmacist John Stith Pemberton developed a tonic known as “Pemberton's French Wine Coca.” This drink also contained coca leaves and cola nuts. After Prohibition laws banned alcohol sales, Pemberton replaced the alcoholic base with water and syrup, leading to the creation of the formula that eventually became Coca-Cola. However, the newly discovered recipe from Florence predates this by several centuries. While Russo highlights the historical significance of the find, he notes there is no direct evidence linking the monastery’s elixir to Pemberton’s later formulation. The recipe itself calls for 30 grams of cola nuts, 10 grams of Bolivian coca leaves, and a liter of alcoholic mixture. It was intended to relieve physical and mental fatigue, headaches, and weakness associated with aging or heavy exertion. Archival records indicate that coca leaves and cola nuts were brought to Tuscany by missionaries from South America, where these plants had been traditionally used for generations. The discovery adds another layer to the complex history of these ingredients, which have played a role in both traditional medicine and commercial beverages. Today, the exact formula for Coca-Cola remains one of the world’s best-known business secrets. The company states that only a small number of employees know the complete formula, and they are bound by strict confidentiality agreements. Their identities are not publicly known. Over the years, a popular myth has circulated that only two people know the entire recipe and never travel together on the same plane. However, Coca-Cola has dismissed this as a legend. According to company claims, Pemberton never recorded the original formula, and it was first documented in 1919. Today, the formula is kept in a specially secured safe. The Convento di San Marco, or Monastery of Saint Mark, is one of Florence’s most renowned historical landmarks, famous for the frescoes of Renaissance painter Fra Angelico. Its apothecary, Antica Farmacia di San Marco, founded in 1436, was among the oldest in the city. For centuries, Dominican monks prepared and sold medicinal remedies, herbal essences, elixirs, and aromatic waters within its walls. Although the apothecary no longer operates in its original form, its legacy continues through historical records and cultural memory.