Tea and Theanine

Effects on mental performance and mood

• Tea has long been known for its ability to revive, relax and refresh at the same time.  Research has now started to look into how tea may have these effects. 
  
  
• Drinking 2-3 cups of tea has been shown to have a positive effect on maintaining alertness throughout the day¹. This may be due to the lower doses of caffeine found in tea² however even when caffeine levels are matched, the effects of tea and coffee on mood are very different, suggesting there is another component in tea that may be responsible.^{1, 2}
  
  
• Theanine is an amino acid found almost exclusively in tea. Early research suggests that 50mg Theanine naturally stimulates activity in the brain known as alpha waves, which are associated with a relaxed but alert mental state.^{3, 4}
  
  
• A typical cup of Lipton tea contains 14-18mg⁵ Theanine.
  
  
• The effect of Theanine on α brain waves may be the mechanism by which tea exerts its unique effect on mood and mental performance. Further studies are underway which will provide insight into the dose-response relationships between Theanine and increased α brain wave activity.
  
  
• (Emerging research is also suggesting that higher levels of theanine may improve the ability to focus attention⁶)

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