This is very interesting. I’m curious how well the l-theanine would counter the adrenalizing effects of caffeine in highly anxious and traumatized bodies . It seems a little counterintuitive if on a path of regulating the system. Any thoughts?
L-theanine is a known anxiolytic and certainly helps with mild to moderate stress, anxiety and focus such as ADHD. I don’t know of any direct studies that have tested L-theanine and caffeine in clinically diagnosed PTSD or trauma populations, which is why I asked my readers for their experiences, some of which I included in the article. I’d love to hear from others with their experiences, especially with teas high in GABA.
I am on Dr. Bredesen’s protocol for ending Alzheimer’s, so I am guided often to the benefits of green tea and finding best ways to include it in my day, very full of other healthy protocols. I tend to just do matcha each afternoon, since it is simple to prepare and i don’t have to make a lot of choices or remember details on seeping. This post was very helpful, enticing me to expand my experience. Having followed you before Substack, I did get in the habit of trying other green and black teas, especially enjoying a London fog, and morning sencha for a bit… or course Chai here and there which I really do l ove. From a functional medicine doctor and leader in the longevity arena I learned that a good loose green tea has better brain benefit if seeped for 10 minutes, and I did that for some time as my morning drink. Can you comment on that. I want both brain benefit and enjoyment? Sometimes, too, I am not sure how many times I can infuse and get another cup of green from my little clay pot.
Studies have shown that the EGCG in green tea is neuroprotective. Shade-grown green teas have higher amounts of EGCG. All high-quality loose-leaf teas can be infused more than once.
You don’t mention sencha tea in your study. That is my morning tea. How does it measure up? I use 170 degree water and steep about 3 minutes. Thanks for the very interesting article.
If you want to maximize the theanine in your tea, you should go for a shaded sencha tea. Not all sencha teas are shaded before harvest. Kabuse sencha is a shaded sencha.
Shade grown green tea (matcha and gyokuro) does have more theanine. But all other green tea has less when brewed as it is typically brewed at a lower temperature and shorter time extracting less theanine.
Thanks for sharing! Really great, informative article. I have organic green decaf tea almost daily and feel better from it. Also, organic chamomile.
Thank you. Oh I love chamomile- I drink organic chamomile every night.
Yes, great for a peaceful sleep!
My Curandera in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz had teas for everything.
Many teas and herbal tea blends are used for healing.
Does decaffeinated tea have theanine?
Very thorough and informative article!! Thank you!
Thank you- it’s an awesome little plant.
This is very interesting. I’m curious how well the l-theanine would counter the adrenalizing effects of caffeine in highly anxious and traumatized bodies . It seems a little counterintuitive if on a path of regulating the system. Any thoughts?
L-theanine is a known anxiolytic and certainly helps with mild to moderate stress, anxiety and focus such as ADHD. I don’t know of any direct studies that have tested L-theanine and caffeine in clinically diagnosed PTSD or trauma populations, which is why I asked my readers for their experiences, some of which I included in the article. I’d love to hear from others with their experiences, especially with teas high in GABA.
Thanks Mary Ann!
I am on Dr. Bredesen’s protocol for ending Alzheimer’s, so I am guided often to the benefits of green tea and finding best ways to include it in my day, very full of other healthy protocols. I tend to just do matcha each afternoon, since it is simple to prepare and i don’t have to make a lot of choices or remember details on seeping. This post was very helpful, enticing me to expand my experience. Having followed you before Substack, I did get in the habit of trying other green and black teas, especially enjoying a London fog, and morning sencha for a bit… or course Chai here and there which I really do l ove. From a functional medicine doctor and leader in the longevity arena I learned that a good loose green tea has better brain benefit if seeped for 10 minutes, and I did that for some time as my morning drink. Can you comment on that. I want both brain benefit and enjoyment? Sometimes, too, I am not sure how many times I can infuse and get another cup of green from my little clay pot.
Studies have shown that the EGCG in green tea is neuroprotective. Shade-grown green teas have higher amounts of EGCG. All high-quality loose-leaf teas can be infused more than once.
You don’t mention sencha tea in your study. That is my morning tea. How does it measure up? I use 170 degree water and steep about 3 minutes. Thanks for the very interesting article.
If you want to maximize the theanine in your tea, you should go for a shaded sencha tea. Not all sencha teas are shaded before harvest. Kabuse sencha is a shaded sencha.
This is very interesting
I thought that green leaf will have more theanine than black leaf, but why is it that black leaf has more? Also, with such a wide gap
Shade grown green tea (matcha and gyokuro) does have more theanine. But all other green tea has less when brewed as it is typically brewed at a lower temperature and shorter time extracting less theanine.
I tend to leave my tea bags in the tea, so I presume I'll be getting more benefit?
Longer steeping times will pull out all the tea compounds, including tannins which tend to be bitter. Does your tea get bitter?
Good question! Yes, it does, but I think to a lesser degree. It depends on the process used to decaffeinate the tea. I wrote about how tea is decaffeinated here: https://maryannrollano.substack.com/p/decaffeineated-tea