PlainPill

Does L-Theanine help with memory?

Possibly — but there are few reports. 67% of 12 people who reported on L-Theanine for memory say it improved. 0% noticed no change and 33% say it got worse.

Memory: what users report
67%better12 reports · few reports
8 better0 no change4 worse

What the research says

AResearch: Strong18 meta-analyses · 78 trials on PubMed
Nutr Rev · 2025
Effects of Tea (Camellia sinensis) or its Bioactive Compounds l-Theanine or l-Theanine plus Caffeine on Cognition, Sleep, and Mood in Healthy Participants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Conclusion: This meta-analysis provides evidence that theanine plus caffeine, and theanine alone, could be beneficial for cognitive and mood outcomes. More research using tea beverages or tea-equivalent bioactive doses and research in free-living participants is needed.

Phytomedicine · 2017
Green tea effects on cognition, mood and human brain function: A systematic review

Conclusion: The reviewed studies presented evidence that green tea influences psychopathological symptoms (e.g. reduction of anxiety), cognition (e.g. benefits in memory and attention) and brain function (e.g. activation of working memory seen in functional MRI). The effects of green tea cannot be attributed to a single constituent of the beverage. This is exemplified in the finding that beneficial green tea effects on cognition are observed under the combined influence of both caffeine and l-theanine, whereas separate administration of either substance was found to have a lesser impact.

Side effects people mention

drowsiness 87vivid dreams 24fatigue 19headache 9anhedonia 8

What else is L-Theanine used for?

Based on few reports — treat as anecdotal. Information only — not medical advice. How we count

Does L-Theanine help with memory? 67% of 12 users say yes — PlainPill