Which green tea has them most L-Theanine?

[ClarG]

I enjoy how green tea is calming because of the L-Theanine in it. Which green teas have the most or a lot of L-Theanine in them?

[pufff]

Well, I'm no expert, but I imagine it's Matcha, since the whole leaf is consumed. If I'm wrong I'd be interested in the correct answer too!

[Mureke]

Anji Baicha and Gyokuro are both reputed as having the highest l-theanine contents. The shading of Gyokuru is responsible for it producing little chlorophyll and consequently containing little polyphenols, but retaining a high amino acid (incl. theanine) content.

Anji Baicha is picked early in spring when temperatures are low and little chorolophyll has yet been produced. Apparently, theanine may serve as a storage substance for ammonium which would otherwise be toxic for the tea plant (Qin Li et al. 2011). The amount of ammonium tends to increase due to cold stress.

The grade of tea matters, though. Since matcha is powdered gyokuro, high-grade matcha tends to have high theanine. Here are some numbers from Kakuda 2002:

Gyokuro High grade 2.35
Low grade 1.52
Matcha High 2.43
Low 1.37
Sencha High 1.55
Low 0.60


Chi-Tang Ho et al. 2009: Tea and Tea Products: Chemistry and Health-Promoting Properties

Kakuda 2002: Neuroprotective effects of the green tea components theanine and catechins. Biol Pharm Bull. 25: 1513-8.

Qin Li et al. 2011: Proteomic analysis of young leaves at three
developmental stages in an albino tea cultivar. Proteome Science 9: 44.

[chrl42]

I heard polyphenol content and amino acid content are in inverse proportion.

The higher altitude it is grown the more amid acid they contain, and it's been a characteritic of high-quality green teas for years. Leaves with a high amino acid amount tend to have lighter color of the leaves...and that's why tea afaciaonado Huizong emperor liked the white tea from Wuyi (Bohea) mountain the best. Anji Baicha is 20c. resurrectin of Song's white tea...similar with Bai Ji Guan and other tea leaves with lighter color. Teas with amino acid are drawn in taste of sweeter note.

The more exposure of the sun will have a darker color of the leaves and get a higher content of polypheonol..also drawn characteristics are the bitter taste and cultivated etc

This is like what I've been hearing...not academic results or anything

Correction welcomed.

[ClarG]

OK thanks for the replies. What are some other green teas that are high/moderate in L-Theanine?

[Mureke]

Here're some numbers from Syu et al. 2011 Determination of Theanine, GABA, and Other Amino Acids in Green, Oolong, Black, and Pu-erh Teas with Dabsylation and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. J. Agric. Food Chem. 56: 7637–7643.

The first number indicates theanine, the second stands for GABA content. As you can see, high-grade longjing has a good theanine content relative to the other teas. The main reason should be that it's picked so early. It should be picked pretty high up in the mountains, too. Notice that Lishan high mountain oolong comes close to the longjing in both theanine and GABA content.

General Green Tea Leaves
Xi-hu lake Longjing, China 1307.86 ± 99.57a, 53.71 ± 7.81
Tenren, green tea (Longjing), Taiwan 1400.90±  81.58, 26.35 ± 7.35
Qingxin-biluo (Min-lao tea factory) 1492.96 ± 64.87, 90.78 ± 17.39
Lion mountain Longjing, China 1562.85 ± 70.96, 68.43 ± 9.80
Zhen-pin (high grade) Longjing, China 3029.98±  171.58, 105.40 ± 9.94

High-Mountain Green Tea
Yunnan high-mountain tea 1, China 1336.75 ± 79.70, 58.28 ± 13.04
Yunnan high-mountain tea 2, China 1668.44 ± 72.58, 52.07 ± 10.32
Meng-pa-zhai (2007 spring), Yunnan, China 2111.38 ± 67.57
Nanru mountain (2005 spring), China 2116.52 ± 85.77

Dong Ding spring tea 744.30 ± 69.25

High-Mountain Oolong Tea
Ah-Li mountain oolong tea 2430.34 ± 147.41 46.29 ± 9.82
Lisan high-mountain oolong tea 2831.40 ± 265.89 101.16 ± 11.57

GABA tea 237.94 ± 73.69 197.51 ± 8.40

(Value (μg/g) = mean ± SD (n ≥ 3))

[MEversbergII]

Ah, there's two threads!

I've heard the stems are high in theanine, so Kukicha may be a contender.

M.

[chrl42]

Ah, there's two threads!

I've heard the stems are high in theanine, so Kukicha may be a contender.

M.

Many people look down on stems, but I heard it could make a very good cup of tea, too.

[cellmatrix]

Here're some numbers from Syu et al. 2011 Determination of Theanine, GABA, and Other Amino Acids in Green, Oolong, Black, and Pu-erh Teas with Dabsylation and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. J. Agric. Food Chem. 56: 7637–7643.

The first number indicates theanine, the second stands for GABA content. As you can see, high-grade longjing has a good theanine content relative to the other teas. The main reason should be that it's picked so early. It should be picked pretty high up in the mountains, too. Notice that Lishan high mountain oolong comes close to the longjing in both theanine and GABA content.

General Green Tea Leaves
Xi-hu lake Longjing, China 1307.86 ± 99.57a, 53.71 ± 7.81
Tenren, green tea (Longjing), Taiwan 1400.90±  81.58, 26.35 ± 7.35
Qingxin-biluo (Min-lao tea factory) 1492.96 ± 64.87, 90.78 ± 17.39
Lion mountain Longjing, China 1562.85 ± 70.96, 68.43 ± 9.80
Zhen-pin (high grade) Longjing, China 3029.98±  171.58, 105.40 ± 9.94

High-Mountain Green Tea
Yunnan high-mountain tea 1, China 1336.75 ± 79.70, 58.28 ± 13.04
Yunnan high-mountain tea 2, China 1668.44 ± 72.58, 52.07 ± 10.32
Meng-pa-zhai (2007 spring), Yunnan, China 2111.38 ± 67.57
Nanru mountain (2005 spring), China 2116.52 ± 85.77

Dong Ding spring tea 744.30 ± 69.25

High-Mountain Oolong Tea
Ah-Li mountain oolong tea 2430.34 ± 147.41 46.29 ± 9.82
Lisan high-mountain oolong tea 2831.40 ± 265.89 101.16 ± 11.57

GABA tea 237.94 ± 73.69 197.51 ± 8.40

(Value (μg/g) = mean ± SD (n ≥ 3))

Thanks for the reference. Personally I find high grade longing very calming and perhaps this is why.

[FlyedPiper]

Matcha has the most. You could always take some Suntheanine and have whatever you want after... lol.

[ClarG]

Does the green tea mao feng have a lot of L-Theanine in it?

[tjsan]

No, Japanese teas contain much more L-Theanine than chinese.

[Mureke]

Does the green tea mao feng have a lot of L-Theanine in it?

I consider high-grade Huangshan mao feng to be one the best sources. High grade is the keyword. You should look for tea grown at high altitudes and picked Pre-Ming in March. Look for as tippy tea as possible - only the bud accompanied by as small a leaf as possible. However, the problem with maofeng is that the term actually stands for one bud and two leaves. You could be better off with one-bud-one-leaf type of tea.

Japanese tea is generally not very tippy, grown at low altitude, and fetches a higher price than Chinese tea. It can still have high theanine when high grade, though.

[TheRev]

This is a great thread! Now can anyone recommend where in the UK/London is best to buy the green teas with the most L-Theanine?

[Jeb]

This is a great thread! Now can anyone recommend where in the UK/London is best to buy the green teas with the most L-Theanine?

You could try mei leaf in Camden. Have only ever ordered via mail from them but they'll have a high l-theanine sencha and lots of choice I think.