Since college, I’ve gone from coffee to black tea to green tea in search of the best caffeinated option. To this day, I still use caffeine to help with focus, energy, and concentration, but I’ve added an additional compound to my toolbox: L-Theanine.*

A powerful bioactive compound found in black tea, green tea, and certain types of mushrooms, L-theanine works synergistically with caffeine to promote focus, energy, and concentration.* It also contributes to a calming effect and overall mood support—”a focused Zen, “If you want.*

I discovered L-theanine when I moved to Hawaii and started drinking matcha. While I loved the earthy, umami taste of matcha, it wasn’t the taste that won me over. Thanks to L-theanine, I enjoyed all the benefits of a match caffeine boost without any jitters or the dreaded caffeine crash I knew all too well from my coffee drinking days.

I stumbled upon a whole new world of possibilities. Although L-theanine is often associated with matcha and other green teas, some smart nootropic supplements (ie, supplements that promote cognitive function) also include this natural compound in their formulas to calm the central nervous system and support brain function.* Paired. with caffeine, the synergistic cognitive effect is incomparable, something I experienced myself.*

According to research published in Food neuroscience, I’m not the only one who has experienced the cognitive benefits of this dynamic duo. A 2008 study found that when combined, L-theanine and caffeine help people solve complex cognitive tasks quickly and accurately. and made them less susceptible to distractions.* Similarly, a 2010 study found that the compounds also worked together to significantly increase alertness and ability to focus.*

With all these incredible benefits in my mind, you can imagine my excitement when I learned that mindbodygreen was launching a supplement with a whole range of plant-based nootropics that included this strategic duo: plant-based caffeine and bioactive L-theanine.