L-Theanine, our secret to balanced energy.
We’ve found that one of the best ways to make caffeine work better is to pair it with an amino acid called L-theanine. It’s naturally found in tea leaves and is known for creating a calm, focused state without making you drowsy.
Here’s what makes it special: L-theanine works by increasing alpha brain wave activity, which is linked to mental clarity and relaxed alertness. When combined with caffeine, it creates a unique synergy—boosting focus, reaction time, and attention span, while also reducing the jittery side effects caffeine can bring.
Research backs this up:
In one study, 97 mg of L-theanine with 40 mg of caffeine improved attention, accuracy, and alertness, while reducing tiredness compared to caffeine alone (Giesbrecht et al., 2010, Nutritional Neuroscience).
Brain imaging research shows the combo helps keep you “in the zone” by reducing mind-wandering (Kahathuduwa et al., 2018 & 2020, Nutritional Neuroscience, Neuropharmacology).
L-theanine on its own has also been shown to reduce stress responses and support executive function—key for staying composed and making clear decisions (Hidese et al., 2019, Nutrients).
STUDIES REFERENCED
Giesbrecht, T., Rycroft, J. A., Rowson, M. J., & De Bruin, E. A. (2010). The combination of L-theanine and caffeine improves cognitive performance and increases subjective alertness. Nutritional neuroscience, 13(6), 283–290. PDF
Ara, A., & Marco-Pallarés, J. (2020). Fronto-temporal theta phase-synchronization underlies music-evoked pleasantness. NeuroImage, 212, 116665. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116665 PDF
Hidese, S., Ogawa, S., Ota, M., Ishida, I., Yasukawa, Z., Ozeki, M., & Kunugi, H. (2019). Effects of L-Theanine Administration on Stress-Related Symptoms and Cognitive Functions in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients, 11(10), 2362. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11102362 PDF