Did the monks in Florence beat the Americans to the plate and serve the first Coke?

In Florence, Italy, a monk has uncovered a historical document in the archives of the San Marco monastery that describes a medicinal drink recipe remarkably similar to today’s Coca-Cola. The discovery was made during routine archival work by Rektor San Marco, Manuel Russo, who came across a faded document or promotional flyer detailing a recipe for “elixir vinoso ricostituente,” or a restorative wine elixir. According to the document, this tonic was prepared using 10 grams of Bolivian coca leaves and 30 grams of cola nuts mixed with wine, which the monks had cultivated. It was promoted as a stimulant to revive both body and spirit after fatigue. The recipe bears striking resemblance to the one later developed by American pharmacist John Pemberton in 1886, who created a sweet beverage from the same plants and carbonated water, eventually evolving into Coca-Cola. While there is no definitive proof linking the monks' formula directly to Pemberton's invention, the similarity has sparked interest among historians and researchers. The document, believed to date back to the mid-19th century, suggests that monks in Florence were trading coca leaves brought by missionaries to Italy. The importation of these leaves was later banned globally in 1961 due to their association with cocaine production. Despite the lack of conclusive evidence connecting the two recipes, Russo has expressed caution, emphasizing that while Pemberton developed his version without alcohol, other producers in Italy and France also crafted similar remedies from coca leaves during that era. Russo noted that the discovery of the document was just one part of a broader collection found in the monastery’s pharmacy archives. These documents reveal that the monks’ tonic was highly popular among local communities, with prices ranging between two and six Italian lire, equivalent to less than a cent in today’s currency. In addition to the elixir, Russo discovered labels for pure oxygen, brandy, and medical petroleum, highlighting the diverse range of products available in the monastery’s apothecary. The San Marco monastery, founded in 1436 and its pharmacy established in 1460, was primarily intended to serve the poorer residents of the surrounding area. Its historical significance is further underscored by the extensive inventory preserved in its archives, which Russo described as one of the most remarkable collections in the region. The findings have drawn attention from scholars interested in the history of medicine and the cultural exchange of ingredients and practices between Europe and South America during the 19th century.