Was Coca-Cola's precursor already in Florence 175 years ago?

Archival research in Florence has unearthed evidence suggesting a potential precursor to Coca-Cola existed in the mid-19th century. During renovations at the San Marco monastery, a promotional flyer for a "strengthening wine elixir" was discovered.

According to Rector Manuel Russo, the elixir, made from coca leaves and cola nuts, was one of the best-selling products of the monastery's pharmacy at that time. These ingredients are notably the same ones used decades later by pharmacist John Pemberton in the United States to create what would eventually become Coca-Cola.

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I came across the old advertisement for this elixir while going through our archive.

Pemberton's initial concoction was known as "Pemberton's French Wine Coca." After alcohol prohibition in the U.S., he replaced the alcohol with water and sugar syrup, leading to the development of the iconic brown soda. The exact recipe for Coca-Cola has been a closely guarded secret by the company for generations.

While the monastery's elixir and Coca-Cola share foundational ingredients, Russo emphasizes that there is no direct evidence linking the two. The flyer describes the "Elixir vinoso ricostituente" as a tonic to alleviate physical and mental fatigue, headaches, and weakness. The recipe called for 30 grams of cola nuts and 10 grams of Bolivian coca leaves, infused in a liter of an alcohol mixture, with the ingredients reportedly brought to Tuscany by missionaries from South America.

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It was one of the most sought-after products of the monastic pharmacy.