Tea’s L-Theanine is our favorite stress buster. Scientists discovered L-theanine (or theanine) in 1949, and although it occurs rarely in nature, you will find it in certain mushrooms and all true teas—especially green and loose leaf teas. Researchers originally confused caffeine with theanine, until they discovered they are not the same substances. Theanine helps explain why tea can have a calming effect, or take the edge off anxiety. It also stimulates memory and mental clarity. Sounds like a wonder drug to me!

Tea taste and how you feel

Last week at the tea bar, a customer from India repeated one of his father’s sayings. “How tea tastes is important; more important is how you feel when the tea is gone.”

These words ring true. L-theanine has a calming effect, and can help you lower your stress level and relax. Drink more true tea to lower your stress levels. True tea from Camellia sinensis, like black tea, green tea, oolong tea and white tea, all have L-theanine. Combined with caffeine, tea can help lower stress, while simultaneously heightening your mental focus. Remember, green tea contains the most L-theanine compared to other teas, but all have L-theanine. Plus, loose leaf and whole leaf teas contain higher amounts—and have greater health benefits overall—compared to bagged or finely cut teas.

Finally, if you want an extra stress buster on top of tea’s theanine, try GABA Oolong. GABA (or gamma-aminobutyric acid), another amino acid naturally found in teas and fermented foods, affects brain functions to reduce anxiety and encourage restful sleep. GABA Oolong undergoes a special processing step to increase GABA levels in the tea leaves.

May your tea taste delicious, and—more importantly—may you feel better after the tea is gone! Cheers from LMTC.

Written by Heather Kreilick, all images borrowed.