Manuel Ruso

Father Manuel Ruso is the prior of the San Marco Monastery in Florence, Italy, who recently made headlines for discovering a historical document detailing a health tonic made from Bolivian coca leaves and kola nuts, suggesting it may be a precursor to the famous soft drink Coca-Cola. His find has sparked interest in the origins of the drink, as the recipe described in the document resembles that of American pharmacist John Pemberton's Coca-Cola formula. Ruso remains cautious about the implications of his discovery, humorously noting he does not wish to invite legal trouble from Coca-Cola while acknowledging the popularity of the original elixir among consumers in the 19th century.