Explore the differences between L-Theanine and Suntheanine. Learn how each supports relaxation, focus, and cognitive performance, and discover which form may be best for your needs.
L-Theanine vs. Suntheanine® presents a face-off between two forms of the same compound. Both are capable of inducing focused relaxation by enhancing your alpha brain wave activity, among other brain benefits. But how are these two forms different? Which is better? What form do top quality L-theanine supplement brands choose? Let’s dig into the answers in this guide.
Key Takeaways
- L-Theanine (sometimes called pure L-isomer Theanine) is a naturally occurring amino acid found in green tea leaves, known for raising alpha brain waves, calming nerves, enhancing focus and reducing caffeine jitters and other adverse reactions.
- Suntheanine is a branded, patented form of L-Theanine produced through a fermentation process, designed to mimic the natural compound while ensuring purity and consistent quality.
- Both L-Theanine and Suntheanine provide the same benefits associated with L-Theanine, including stress reduction, improved focus, better sleep quality, and "relaxed alertness."
- Some studies suggest Suntheanine may have more reliable potency and bioavailability due to its controlled production process.
- Suntheanine products can make health claims that plain L-Theanine cannot, due to research that has been performed on the Suntheanine form, specifically.
- Both forms pair well with caffeine to promote a state of calm focus and are sometimes included as a tandem in caffeinated nootropic stacks.
- Doses for L-Theanine and Suntheanine range from 50-400 mg per day, depending on the desired effect, tolerance, and amount of caffeine if applicable (usually a 2:1 L-theanine to caffeine ratio).
- L-Theanine is widely available in both natural and supplement forms, often at a lower price. Suntheanine is slightly more expensive but marketed as a premium, standardized product.
- AlphaWave® L-theanine is another branded form that is newer to the market, but emerging as another good-quality, research-backed option.
L-Theanine vs. Suntheanine: Which is Best?
L-Theanine and Suntheanine offer similar benefits. The choice largely depends on budget, weighing the common benefits against Suntheanine's luxury brand advantages.
Before getting into the compare-and-contrast, let's dig into some more details on how L-Theanine works and what it does.
What is L-Theanine?
L-theanine is a potent amino acid nootropic compound found in green tea. Research suggests it may help enhance cognitive function and support brain health in a few ways.
Some potential nootropic benefits associated with chronic L-Theanine administration are:
- "Wakeful relaxation": L-Theanine enhances alpha brainwave activity, which in turn helps to heightening mental acuity and promoting a calm, focused and clear-headed cognitive state.(1)
- May help with stress and anxiety: Helps lower physiological and psychological stress responses (and other stress), making it one of the top nootropics for stress.(2,3)
- Mental health support: Potentially assists with depression symptoms, improve sleep and help with cognitive impairments in patients with major depressive disorder. (4)
- Promotes focus and attention: May help you filter out distractions and support better concentration, especially when paired with low-to-moderate dose caffeine.
- Helps with reducing negative effects of caffeine, such as jitters or irritability.
Brain Wave Benefits
Suntheanine L-Theanine is famous for its ability to cross the blood brain barrier and "tune" the brain's frequency to Alpha Brain Waves.
The alpha brain wave state is typically experienced when you're relaxed yet alert, often occurring when you're in a calm, meditative state, or in light, undemanding activities like daydreaming.
Alpha is the brainwave state associated with the "flow" of relaxed focus, where you feel mentally clear, at ease, and able to concentrate without feeling stressed or overwhelmed. It's good for creativity, learning performance and problem-solving.
During alpha waves, you're likely to experience a sense of calm, reduced anxiety, and emotional balance, all of which help with promoting concentration, learning, memory recall, and focus.
Both L-Theanine and Suntheanine modulate Alpha brain waves.
This bioactivity accounts for these ingredients' nootropic effects for clarity and wakeful relaxation. Additional human clinical research suggests L-Theanine has neuroprotective effects too, potentially helping with long-range brain health.(5)
Did you know? Brain waves are electrical impulses in the brain that occur when neurons communicate with each other, and they are classified into different types based on their frequency, each associated with specific mental states and cognitive functions. In addition to the Alpha brain waves, there are:
- Delta Waves: Restorative sleep, physical healing, immune function.
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Theta Waves: Deep relaxation effect, creativity, light sleep, rejuvenation.
- Beta Brain Waves: Active thinking, problem-solving and concentration.
- Gamma Waves: Higher cognitive functions; learning, memory, processing.
As dietary supplements, both L-Theanine and Suntheanine provide amino acid theanine benefits.
When considering L-theanine vs. Suntheanine, it's key to remember that both supply the same active compound -- L-Theanine -- which provides the same effects on the body.
The difference lies in standardization and purity. Suntheanine is patented L-Theanine. A highly purified form produced through fermentation, ensuring consistent quality and dosing.
While some marketing may highlight Suntheanine’s reliability, it does not have greater potency compared to well-sourced, high-quality L-Theanine that exists on the market.
Still, Suntheanine is a great product, with another big advantage: Suntheanine has invested a lot of money into research on their product's quality and beneficial effects.
This includes several Gold Standard studies: randomized, double blind placebo controlled clinical trials. In other words, Suntheanine has been shown to work by science.
Learn about other nootropics that work according to science
Let's go into some advantages of the branded form in the Suntheanine vs L-Theanine debate.
Suntheanine® Features
With the regular form, manufacturers often extract green tea leaves resulting in (mostly) pure L-Theanine powder, suitable for supplements. L-Theanine may also be synthesized for use in supplements.
Suntheanine is instead made using a patented process. Enzyme glutaminase -- which is obtained from bacteria, mold, or yeast -- is combined with the amino acid glutamine and other compounds in a controlled process. The enzyme ultimately converts glutamine into theanine that is, from a molecular standpoint, identical to L-Theanine found in green tea leaves.
Suntheanine is best described as a "cultured nutrient" because it is produced using a tightly controlled fermentation process.
It can also be categorized as a lab-grown nutrient due to its precise, industrial production method. This method allows for large-scale, consistent production of pure L-theanine.
Did you know? Cultured, lab-grown nutrients are gaining popularity due to their efficiency and consistent quality. NutriGenesis is a line of cultured vitamins and minerals that is featured in top supplements, including the L-Theanine stack supplements we discuss at the end of this article.
Suntheanine protected by over 40 patents worldwide.
The method of producing Suntheanine is just one patent backing this brand. It also has patents for:
- Supporting sleep, improving sleep quality (US patent 8293269)
- Enhancing mental focus and concentration via Alpha brain wave modulation (US patent 9724318)
- Assisting with smoking cravings and supporting smoking cessation (US patent 7094787).
- PMS symptom relief, including support for mood, comfort and energy (US patent 6831103)
Suntheanine® claims higher purity and better bioavailability, which may lead to more significant cognitive and health benefits.
Suntheanine Research
One big difference between L-theanine and Suntheanine: the latter is a well-researched branded ingredient. It has been the subject of over 100 studies, including human clinical trials.
It was even awarded the “Food Ingredient Research Award” in the 1998 Food Ingredients Europe, sparking a boom in L-Theanine's use as an ingredient in new food and beverage categories beyond dietary supplements.
Generally recognized as safe and effective, used in hundreds of supplements and other products, backed by extensive research, shown to be free of negative side effects... Suntheanine is pretty much clinically proven at this point.
Following are some of Suntheanine's potential benefits in the nootropic and brain health space, reported from well-designed, brand-specific, placebo controlled clinical trial studies:
- Suntheanine® may improve attention and reaction time, while modulating anxiety.(6)
- Helps to enhance sleep quality in boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).(7) Link
- Assists with regulating anxiety, mood disorders, and substance dependence caused by Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).(8)
Suntheanine® vs L-Theanine
What's the difference between plain amino acid L-Theanine and Suntheanine? Each form has a few pros and cons. Let's check them out:
Suntheanine Advantages:
- High purity: Standardized production ensures consistent quality and potency.
- Reliable effects: Guaranteed to contain only the active L-isomer of theanine, which is responsible for its benefits.
- Backed by research: Extensively studied in clinical trials for reducing stress and improving focus, sleep, and mood. Backed by international patents.
- Precision dosing: Ideal for supplements requiring exact dosages.
Suntheanine Disadvantages:
- Higher cost: Suntheanine supplements are more expensive than a plain L-Theanine supplement.
- Synthetic production: Some individuals may prefer naturally derived sources, such as those made from green tea leaves, over lab-based nutrients.
Plain L-Theanine Advantages:
- Natural source: Often derived directly from tea leaves using a natural process, appealing to those seeking a natural option.
- Affordable: Plain L-theanine supplementation is less expensive than Suntheanine.
- Wide availability: Found in many forms, including teas, supplements, and natural extracts.
Plain L-Theanine Disadvantages:
- Quality questions (sometimes): The concentration of regular L-Theanine can vary depending on the source and extraction process. Natural extracts may not be as purified as Suntheanine.
- Less research-specific: Effects can vary due to potential inclusion of other isomers or compounds. Both forms are effective, but the choice depends on priorities such as cost, source preference, and the need for standardized quality.
Suntheanine® vs AlphaWave
AlphaWave is another contender in the branded, standardized L-theanine ingredient market.
AlphaWave L-Theanine vs. Suntheanine: Comparison
Suntheanine: Synthetic L-theanine produced through a patented fermentation process to mimic the natural compound found in tea leaves. Guarantees 100% pure L-theanine in its active form. Backed by extensive clinical research. Backed by numerous studies supporting its ability to promote relaxation, improve sleep quality, and reduce stress without causing drowsiness.
AlphaWave: Derived directly from tea leaves and standardized for high purity. This brand is growing in popularity but less widely studied or known than Suntheanine. Clinical studies have evaluated AlphaWave® at doses of 200 mg and 400 mg per day, demonstrating its safety and effectiveness in promoting relaxation, mental clarity and focus as well as reducing stress and nervous tension.
Did you know? L Theanine and Caffeine are a great match. It is able to amplify the benefits of caffeine while inhibiting the unwanted side effects which are often attributed to caffeine.
Let's now take a look at some of the top supplements on the market today that supply L-Theanine.
Top Supplements with L-Theanine
Mind Lab Pro®
MLP® is the best nootropic brain health supplement on the market. Its 11-in-1 formula includes 100 mg of L-Theanine per serving.
The MLP Formula: Citicoline (CDP Choline) dosage 250mg per serving, Phosphatidylserine (PS) 100mg (from sunflower lecithin), Bacopa monnieri 150mg (24% bacosides, 9 bioactives), Organic Lion's Mane Mushroom 500mg (fruit and mycelium), Maritime Pine Bark Extract 75mg (Standardized to 95% proanthocyanidins), N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine 175mg, L-Theanine 100mg per serving, Rhodiola rosea 50mg (Standardized to 3% rosavins and 1% salidrosides), NutriGenesis® Vitamin B6 (2.5 mg), Vitamin B9 (100 mcg), Vitamin B12 (7.5 mcg)
More on Mind Lab Pro® ingredients
MLP® is an effective supplement: one of the very few nootropic products that is actually backed by human research. Its L-Theanine, as part of a nootropic stack, contributed to positive cognitive results:
- Study 1: Subjects taking MLP showed significant improvements (compared to placebo) in information processing tasks.(9)
- Study 2: Subjects taking MLP had significant improvements across multiple memory functions, including auditory, visual, visual working, immediate and delayed recall memory.(10)
- Study 3: Subjects taking MLP for 60 days demonstrated enhanced efficiency and coordination in communication of the brain's different regions.(11)
Ultimately, Mind Lab Pro® is the one nootropic supplement that does everything you need -- focus, memory, attention, concentration, mood, relaxation, stress resistance, memory and more. All while nourishing long-range brain health.
Performance Lab® Caffeine 2
This "smart caffeine" delivers precision stimulation in a cleaner, healthier format. It includes 100 mg of L-Theanine per 50 mg caffeine: the research-backed ratio for best benefits.
Ingredients: Natural Caffeine (from Coffea robusta seeds), L-Theanine, L-Tyrosine, NutriGenesis® Caffeine Balance B-Complex.
Caffeine 2 enhances all caffeine advantages and benefits -- alertness, mental clarity, physical and mental energy -- while reducing jitters, crashes and other unpleasant side effects.
The end result is performance-tuned stimulation: Cleaner, healthier, sharper vitality that's easy and convenient to take every day.
More on Performance Lab® Caffeine 2
Pre Lab Pro®
“World’s smartest pre-workout drink": smooth energy, focus and peak performance with no jitters or crashes. It includes 160 mg L-Theanine to balance its moderate-dose of 80 mg caffeine.
Ingredients: Red Beetroot Powder; Setria® Performance Blend; Natural Caffeine; L-Theanine; L-Tyrosine; Vitamin D3, Potassium and Iron (all as NutriGenesis®), Himalayan Pink Salt. Delicious natural berry flavor.
Pre Lab Pro® is a nootropics-enhanced pre-workout formula, and the best L-Theanine supplement for athletes, specifically. It supplies a moderate dose of sport-tuned caffeine with amino acids that balance energy and performance-driven cognitive enhancement with calm control. Learn more about top pre-workout nootropic supplements
With an additional nitric oxide boost for blood flow plus natural hydration support, Pre Lab Pro® enhances intensity, motivation and mental sharpness throughout your session -- for better gym performance, muscle growth and muscle gains overall.
Summary on L-Theanine vs. Suntheanine®
L-Theanine and Suntheanine are both excellent options for those seeking relaxation, improved focus, and other cognitive benefits.
L-Theanine, often naturally derived from tea leaves, is a great choice for those who value a natural source and a more budget-friendly option, though its potency and purity may vary depending on the extraction process.
Suntheanine, on the other hand, is a premium, lab-cultured version of L-Theanine that guarantees high purity and consistent effects, making it ideal for individuals prioritizing precision and reliability.
Ultimately, both forms are effective, and the decision comes down to budget considerations and whether natural sourcing is a priority for you.
References
- Nobre AC, et al. L-theanine, a natural constituent in tea, and its effect on mental state. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2008; 17 Suppl 1: 167-8. Link
- Ai Yoto et al. Effects of L-theanine or caffeine intake on changes in blood pressure under physical and psychological stresses. J Physiol Anthropol. 2012; 31(1): 28. Link
- Kimura K et al. L-Theanine reduces psychological and physiological stress responses. Biol Psychol. 2007 Jan;74(1):39-45. Epub 2006 Aug 22. Link
- Hidese S et al. Effects of chronic l-theanine administration in patients with major depressive disorder: an open-label study. Acta Neuropsychiatr. 2017 Apr;29(2):72-79. doi: 10.1017/neu.2016.33. Epub 2016 Jul 11. Link
- Deb S, Dutta A, Phukan BC, Manivasagam T, Justin Thenmozhi A, Bhattacharya P, Paul R, Borah A. Neuroprotective attributes of L-theanine, a bioactive amino acid of tea, and its potential role in Parkinson's disease therapeutics. Neurochem Int. 2019 Oct;129:104478. Link
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Akiko Higashiyama et al. Effects of l-theanine on attention and reaction time response Journal of Functional Foods Volume 3, Issue 3, July 2011, Pages 171-178. Link
- Lyon MR et al. The effects of L-theanine (Suntheanine®) on objective sleep quality in boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Altern Med Rev. 2011 Dec;16(4):348-54. Link
- Tomás Eduardo Ceremuga et al. Effects of L-Theanine on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Induced Changes in Rat Brain Gene Expression. Scientific World Journal. 2014; 419032. Link
- Utley A, Gonzalez Y, Imboden CA. The Efficacy of A Nootropic Supplement on Information Processing in Adults: A Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Study. Biomed J Sci & Tech Res 49(1)-2023. Link
- Abbott-Imboden C., Gonzalez Y., Utley A. (2023). Efficacy of the nootropic supplement Mind Lab Pro on memory in adults: Double blind, placebo-controlled study. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental, e2872. Link
- O’Reilly, D., Bolam, J., Delis, I., & Utley, A. (2025). Effect of a Plant-Based Nootropic Supplement on Perceptual Decision-Making and Brain Network Interdependencies: A Randomised, Double-Blinded, and Placebo-Controlled Study. Brain Sciences, 15(3), 226. Link
