Ditch the Crash and Jitters: L-Theanine x Caffeine

Do your energy levels feel like a rollercoaster ride?

We are all too familiar with the dreaded mid-day energy crash. With the hustle and bustle of our busy lives, it’s hard to say no to a boost in energy nowadays - especially if you’re working from home. However, it’s very difficult to achieve peak, sustained energy levels with traditional caffeinated drinks. Many products are also loosely regulated and are improperly dosed, which can lead to an increase in stress and anxiety. Science has shown that increased stress levels can, over time, harm your immune system, lower your serotonin levels, and even raise your blood pressure. It doesn’t seem like it’s worth a quick burst of energy!

Clearly, not all forms of energy are created equal. Fortunately, there is now a large body of scientific research done on ingredients that can boost your energy in smarter, safer ways. Take, for example, L-theanine and caffeine. Each on their own has its own benefits, but when taken together, their benefits are amplified!


Caffeine has become a staple part of most daily routines. Last year, over 23 billion pounds of coffee were consumed across the globe. Couple that with the fact that more than half of American adults drink at least 3 cups of coffee per day, and it’s easy to see just how much people rely on caffeine to get through the day. But it all comes with a cost.

When caffeine is consumed, it hits the gas pedal in your brain and tells your neurotransmitters to fire more rapidly. This can lead to feeling more alert, and it can also increase brain activity for recall and performance on simple tasks. But with this come the jitters, and once the caffeine wears off, you experience that crash we all know too well.

Caffeine itself isn’t the problem, though; it’s about getting the right amount and taking them in tandem with modulating ingredients (like L-theanine) to prevent the negative side effects. In addition, Mayo Clinic recommends an upper threshold limit of 400mg for most adults - that’s about 4 cups of coffee.


L-theanine is an amino acid often found in natural sources like matcha and in some supplements as well. Studies have shown many benefits to taking L-theanine, such as immune system support, relaxation, clarity of mind, and better mental focus. L-theanine is a safe way to support relaxation and ease of mind without drowsiness—a bonus if you are taking it during the day.

Scientists believe that L-theanine works by telling certain brain chemicals (like cortisol, the stress hormone) to calm down while activating others (like GABA and dopamine, the happy, calm hormones). This in turn supports lower blood pressure and improved focus. And while it’s hard to get L-theanine from your daily food intake, products like matcha or Gotama’s AWAKE can help bridge that gap. Plus, as you’ll learn below, caffeine and L-theanine each enhance the feel-good effects of the other—it’s a win-win!

Better Together

 Caffeine is a powerful stimulant when consumed in the right amounts, and L-theanine is an amino acid that works as a natural calming agent by minimizing cortisol release.

Each ingredient on its own has great benefits and has been sold separately for years. But as we said above, when caffeine and L-theanine are combined, they each sustain and amplify the positive effects of the other. The jitteriness associated with taking too much caffeine is balanced by increased GABA production and alpha brainwave stimulation by L-theanine, and the anxiety and high blood pressure that can be caused by too much caffeine are counterbalanced with L-theanine’s ability to boost serotonin and dopamine levels. In fact, in clinical trials have shown that combining caffeine and L-theanine in human participants produced longer periods of focus and energy with increased accuracy on task switching and completion.

In a nutshell, by combining a serving of both caffeine and L-theanine simultaneously in a beverage like Gotama’s AWAKE, people experience increased energy, focus, and a sense of calm without the traditional negative withdrawal effects of grabbing coffee or your typical energy drink.

Gotama’s AWAKE  

A key element to achieving clean, sustained energy without the crash, jitters, anxiety, and brain fog is to have the right levels of both compounds. While many caffeinated drinks may contain improperly dosed ingredients, Gotama’s AWAKE uses 16, carefully balanced, science-backed ingredients (like the L-theanine and caffeine) to work in perfect harmony. It also contains adaptogens like ashwagandha and Bacopa, which provide further benefits (but more on that later!). AWAKE supports your energy daily so you can be your best self.

AWAKE comes in a sweet, refreshing watermelon flavor that is easily palatable, so you’ll look forward to drinking it every day! Just mix one serving with water, sip, and get on with your day - your to-do lists will thank you.

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