Riana Lynn
Riana Lynn

Ingredient Insights: L-theanine

L-Theanine is classified as a nootropic - otherwise known as a “smart drug”. It’s 100% natural, has virtually no negative side-effects, and is used to help one focus and relax. You can find it in most natural groceries and drug stores.
Riana Lynn
3 mins
February 4, 2021
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The Pie
Quick Answer

Plant based reformulation is growing because it now wins on economics, not just values across Journey Al data it moves the nutrition score +26.9%, cuts cradle to  gate CO2e -42% per serving, and lowers raw material cost  -6.5% versus an animal protein control while cutting supplier lead times from 14 weeks to 6.

Key takeways
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It's an economics story. Plant-based now hits four reported metrics at once margin, scope-3, nutrition, and traceability.
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The supply base caught up. Tier-1 pea, faba, and chickpea isolates reached spec parity with whey this year.
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Speed is the unlock. A three-week supplier email chain becomes a four-minute query with ingredient intelligence.

Ingredient Quick Look:

L-Theanine is classified as a nootropic - otherwise known as a “smart drug”. It’s 100% natural, has virtually no negative side-effects, and is used to help one focus and relax. You can find it in most natural groceries and drug stores.

What is L-Theanine?

L-Theanine is an amino acid that can be found naturally in various teas and mushrooms. It’s classified as a nootropic.

Nootropic

a substance that enhances cognition and memory and facilitates learning.

By 2026, the nootropics market is projected to reach $5.3 billion. “Smart drugs” are growing in popularity, and consumers are looking for ways to focus and maintain a healthy a stable mood balance.

Other nootropics include, rhodiola rosea, kratom, piracetam, ginkgo biloba, and even caffeine.

What are some popular products with L-Theanine?

  • Bottled Health beverages (coffee drinks, protein drinks, etc.)
  • Oral capsule supplements
  • Tea

What is L-Theanine for?

  • Focus
  • Anxiety reduction
  • Relaxation
  • Immune booster
  • Improved sleep quality

Some research even shows that L-Theanine can be used to lower blood pressure.

And according to studies, it is also shown to be safe way to treat ADHD in children age 8-12.

L-Theanine Popularity

L-Theanine can be found in many supermarkets and groceries as a supplement, and it is also found in a growing number of products.

Soylent features l-theanine in its coffee drinks, and many other companies do the same. L-Theanine is known to reduce jitters and shakiness (side effect of caffeine), so it makes a great pairing with coffee beverages.

Further Information

L-Theanine is a non-protein amino acid, which is abundant in the leaves of Camelia sinensis (green tea). γ-Glutamylethylamide or L-Theanine has been studied as a food additive and functional food in relation to human nutrition. It has noticeable bioactivities including anti-cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, stress-reducing, antitumor, anti-aging, and anti-anxiety activities. Dietary supplementation of L-Theanine is a feasible way to mitigate reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced damage (Saeed et al. 2017).

Theanine is considered to be a unique amino acid in nature because, with the exception of being found in the basidiomycete mushroom Xerocomus badius, its occurrence appears to be limited to the Camellia genus, mostly the tea-producing plants C. sinensis var. sinensis and C. sinensis var. assamica and some closely related species such as C. japonica and C. sasanqua. In the leaves of the tea plant species, theanine accounts for about 500 g kg−1 of the free amino acids. Many of these amino acids are involved in producing the distinctive aroma and taste of tea and theanine has been linked with giving tea its distinctive umami and caramel attractive flavor, that helps to alleviate tea polyphenols astringency and caffeine bitterness (Vuong et al. 2011, Saeed et al. 2017). Because of its contribution to taste, the theanine content in tea leaves correlates highly with tea quality and price; the teas with a high content of theanine are normally evaluated as having a higher quality and thus command a higher price (Vuong et al. 2011).

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About the Author
Riana Lynn

Scientist. Nutrition Leader. Founder of Journey Foods

Frequently asked questions

Structured Q&A  marked up with FAQ Page schema so it can be surfaced and cited by Al engines and search.

Is plant based reformulation actually cheaper than 
animal protein?

In Journey Al's 12 month dataset, the median plant protein reformulation came in -6.5% on raw material cost versus an animal protein control the first year that line went negative, driven by Tier 1 isolate suppliers reaching spec parity.

How much does plant based reformulation improve 
nutrition scores?

In Journey Al's 12 month dataset, the median plant protein reformulation came in -6.5% on raw material cost versus an animal protein control the first year that line went negative, driven by Tier 1 isolate suppliers
reaching spec parity.

What's the supply chain risk of switching?

In Journey Al's 12 month dataset, the median plant protein reformulation came in -6.5% on raw material cost versus an animal protein control the first year that line went negative, driven by Tier 1 isolate suppliers
reaching spec parity.

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