If you feel that the star of this blog article is L-Theanine - you are right (sorry Guayusa). However, it's worth mentioning that Guayusa is only one of two plants which contain L-Theanine. L-Theanine (short: Theanine) is a naturally occurring amino acid which was first discovered by the Japanese researcher Dr. Y. Sakato. In Japan, Theanine plays an essential role in daily consumption, especially in tea. But why is it popular and what is the effect of Theanine? Let's find out!

Focus, Relaxation and Creativity

Let's start with a personal question: Do you meditate? If yes, you probably already know the feeling of L-Theanine. Scientific studies have shown that the amino acid L-Theanine triggers the release of alpha brain waves. We will spare you all the details of the scientific processes within the brain, however the effect is remarkable: The alpha brain waves lead to a state of mind, which also occurs during meditation as well as creative tasks. Scientific studies conclude that the release of alpha-waves enhances focus, relaxation and creativity. Amazing, isn't it? [11]

Anti-stress effects

We talked about meditation before. Now it's time for stress: What happens if you take L-Theanine before a special stressful situation (e.g. exam or competition)? Scientific studies have shown that the amino acid L-Theanine may reduce anxiety and stress. This means L-Theanine may help support the mental performance. [6] [12]

Anti-inflammatory properties

Hey Guayusa! We didn't talk about you for a while. The study by Pardau et al. (2017, [9]) found out that Guayusa is a «good source of dietary phenolic compounds with cellular antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties». The amino acid L-Theanine plays also an important role here. We love your symbiosis!

Caffeine + L-Theanine Combination

There is a good chance that you found this blog article because you are searching for additional information about the exciting combination of caffeine and Theanine. The combination of caffeine and L-Theanine is one of the most known nootropics or also used for natural biohacking. It's also one of the most researched natural nootropic: There are hundreds scientific studies from well-known scientific journals.

Pure caffeine (without L-Theanine) like in coffee or energy drinks can be your worst enemy. Caffeine interacts with neurotransmitters in the brain and can cause feelings like nervousness and anxiety. [10] However, in combination with L-Theanine, caffeine becomes your beloved friend. Guayusa contains caffeine, L-Theanine as well as valuable polyphenols (antioxidants). This special combination makes Guayusa a superior option compared to coffee and energy drinks.

All cited scientific studies can be found at the bottom of our Guayusa page.