The Scoop on L-Theanine

The chill pill you’ve been waiting for.

Life can be a rollercoaster. One moment you're cruising, the next, you're stuck in a traffic jam of stress and anxiety. Thankfully, nature has always been watching out for us, and it has the secret potion – L-Theanine, the chill pill you've been waiting for.

It sends a wave of calm washing over you and brings sunshine to the gloomy days. It's like a zen master whispering sweet nothings to your brain. Or a warm blanket wrapping you up amidst chilly wind - relaxing your body but not seducing you to sleep. That's the magic of L-Theanine, folks.

BACKSTORY

This powerful amino acid is naturally found in green and black tea, and also in a few fungi. It was discovered in green tea leaves in the mid-1900s, in Japan. After this discovery, farmers began providing shade for green tea, especially matcha, because it increases the L-Theanine content. So when you see “shade grown” on green or black tea, expect it to be higher in L-Theanine.

BENEFITS

Now, here's the science bit – L-Theanine waltzes through your blood-brain barrier and flips the switch on alpha brainwaves. Alpha waves are the land of relaxation, bringing peace and clarity to your mental landscape. And the best part – it kicks into gear within the time it takes to watch an episode of your favorite show (30-40 minutes), and brings a mellow state of mind and body, without the drowsiness.

Beyond its relaxation effects, L-Theanine has also been well studied through many clinical trials and has shown positive results for a handful of other benefits. It swoops in to fight off the stress from the chaos of everyday life. It provides anxiety relief, enhances mental clarity and improves cognitive function. It gives you that much needed boost when you’re feeling overwhelmed and like you said yes to one too many things.

And for the ladies - L-Theanine just might become your new best friend during that time of the month. Clinical trials have shown that a dose of 200mg is successful in reducing PMS symptoms, including crying, irritability and anger (if you know, you know). So say goodbye to those volatile mood swings!

WHEN TO USE

We incorporated a functional amount of 200mg of L-Theanine into our new Chill Chai SuperLatte to help you find your calm amidst the chaos. Think of Chill Chai as your little chill pill.

It’s perfect for drinking:

After a long, stressful day or in moments when you want to relax and decompress.
When you need to quiet your mind and feel calm but sharp during a stressful situation - like before a big presentation or important conversation.
Around that time of month when the PMS monsters typically awaken.

Author

Henny Rau

Henny is a coastal California-based writer. When not writing, she spends her days forging trails amongst the hills & fields of Marin county, paddling into waves or sharing garden meals with friends.