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L-Theanine

Posted: Jan 19th, '06, 21:49
by Caletara
I read that green and white tea contain L-theanine, which acts has a calming effect on the body. Does anyone know anything more about this, or if all green teas or Adagio teas contain this?

Posted: Jan 20th, '06, 22:21
by peachaddict
Caletara,

Can't be sure, but a website says "L-Theanine (5-N-ethylguatamine) is a unique free-form amino acid found in green tea. L-Theanine is the predominant amino acid in green tea and makes up 50% of the total free amino acids in the plant."

If you want to see it, the website is one selling L-Theanine that happens to have a little info on it: http://www.evitamins.com/product.asp?pid=6029&joc=yes. Hope this helps in any way :wink: .

Posted: Feb 19th, '06, 13:16
by Warden Andy
http://www.web-us.com/l-theanine_anxiety_reducer.htm

So that's what causes the relaxed feeling when drinking green tea. And it wasn't just me when I felt like I could concentrate better in school when I drink green tea instead of black tea or coffee in the morning.

Posted: Dec 22nd, '08, 08:14
by Rose
I will use (mod Edit for spam) where I can purchase ?

Posted: Dec 22nd, '08, 08:57
by toastedtoads
Just drink Green & White tea. :wink:

Re: L-Theanine

Posted: Dec 22nd, '08, 10:18
by Cofftea
Caletara wrote:Does anyone know anything more about this, or if all green teas or Adagio teas contain this?
ALL true teas, but only true teas: white, black, green, oolong, and yellow have it.

Posted: Dec 22nd, '08, 10:22
by Love4TheLeaf
For some reason, PG Tips gives me a real nice feeling but I don't know if it's the theanine or the caffeine.

Posted: Dec 22nd, '08, 10:29
by Cofftea
Love4TheLeaf wrote:For some reason, PG Tips gives me a real nice feeling but I don't know if it's the theanine or the caffeine.
It's actually the combination, decaf just doesn't give me the same feeling- but it's MUCH different from drinking caffeinated coffee or soda.

Posted: Dec 22nd, '08, 20:07
by Sam.
Warden wrote:http://www.web-us.com/l-theanine_anxiety_reducer.htm

So that's what causes the relaxed feeling when drinking green tea. And it wasn't just me when I felt like I could concentrate better in school when I drink green tea instead of black tea or coffee in the morning.
What an old thread! But thanks Warden, very interesting read. I'm sure that if green tea contains L-theanine, then white tea must also, as they're processed similarly. But I wonder if more oxidized teas (black, oolong) or "post-fermented teas" (pu-erh) contain L-theanine and, if so, is it in the same amounts or is the L-theanine altered by the processing.

Posted: Dec 22nd, '08, 23:59
by murrius
I love this thread! It refuses to die. You have to admire the sheer tenacity of a thread like this one. The staying power..... the determination....

Brain chemistry and tea. What a combo! I'm suprised that this thread hasn't brought out our chemistry enthusiasts. I remember being quite struck by the mood altering effect of green tea when I first started to drink it. Now I notice it less. Probably because my baseline mind/body is now more in line with the state of mind that drinking tea helped to produce in the first place. It's official - I have tea brain.

Posted: Dec 26th, '08, 01:19
by devites
l-theanine capsules don't work. If your looking for a "high/buzz," matcha is your best bet as far as teas. If your searching to replace somethng :wink:
St. John's Wort: herbal chillpills
Kava Kava: The tea gave me a chill feeling, but the pills don't work
Valerian Root: Calming/Drowsy

Posted: Dec 28th, '08, 13:16
by Sinister
So that's why I like Green and White Tea best. Hmph.

It's like the man who found out Lays Potato Chips were laced with cocaine. "No wonder I couldn't eat just one!" ><; But to be honest, I'm not surprised. But I don't know if this calming effect cause by this amino acid is substantial enough to account for the fact that Green and White tea taste good.

Posted: Dec 29th, '08, 04:49
by devites
Initially with matcha I noticed it, but after about 10 times it had little effect. I found myself chasing the dragon :D . The mouthfeel to me is what is addicting.

L-theanine in all tea?

Posted: Jan 1st, '09, 13:14
by Katmandu
So is the concensus that all teas in loose form black, oolong,green and white all contain some theanine?

Re: L-theanine in all tea?

Posted: Jan 1st, '09, 14:53
by Salsero
Katmandu wrote: So is the concensus that all teas in loose form black, oolong,green and white all contain some theanine?
Yes.