Tea has been the meditator's companion for over a thousand years, Zen monks drank whisked tea to stay alert yet settled through long sits. Science eventually found the reason: L-theanine, an amino acid almost unique to the tea leaf.
The Herbarium / N° 16
L-Theanine
Camellia sinensis
Amino acid
The calm-focus amino acid hiding in every cup of green tea.
Identical to the L-theanine found in shade-grown tea leaves, produced to food-supplement purity and blended into our oils in the UK.
- L-theanine
- An amino acid found almost exclusively in the tea plant.
Used in our Liquid range at levels comparable to several cups of green tea, without the caffeine load that comes with them.
L-theanine is unusually well studied for an amino acid, with EEG work on alpha-wave activity and multiple trials pairing it with caffeine for attention measures.
- It's the source of umami in a well-brewed green tea.
- Shade-grown teas like matcha and gyokuro develop notably higher theanine levels.
- Discovered and named by Japanese researchers in 1949.
TheanineSuntheanineγ-glutamylethylamide
Traditional use reflects historical and cultural practice, not licensed health claims. Always read the label and consult a healthcare professional if unsure.
Where you'll find it
