L-Theanine Bulk Powder: A Formulator's Guide

L-theanine is an amino acid that occurs naturally in green tea (Camellia sinensis) and has become one of the most requested ingredients in the functional beverage and relaxation product category. Formulators value it for its clean-label tea origin, its excellent water solubility, and its extensive presence in the published literature. This guide covers what bulk L-theanine is, why it shows up in so many Canadian formulations, and the practical details that matter when working with it.

What Is L-Theanine?

L-theanine (CAS 3081-61-6) is a non-protein amino acid extracted from Camellia sinensis (green tea). The material we supply is a white to off-white crystalline powder with an assay of 98.0–102.0%, freely soluble in water. It carries a mild, slightly sweet umami taste that is easy to work around at typical inclusion levels, and it is listed in Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database (NHPID).

Why Formulators Use L-Theanine

• Market positioning: L-theanine is widely studied in the relaxation and cognitive literature, and finished-product brands commonly position it in "calm," "unwind," and "focus" product lines. As a raw material supplier, we make no health claims — brands making such claims on finished products may require a Natural Product Number (NPN) from Health Canada.
• Caffeine pairing: combining caffeine with L-theanine is a well-documented formulation practice, common in energy and focus beverages. See our caffeine sources comparison guide for the caffeine side of that pairing.
• Clean-label origin: a green tea extraction story reads well on Canadian labels compared to purely synthetic alternatives.
• Ease of use: free water solubility and a neutral sensory footprint make it one of the least troublesome actives to add to a liquid formulation.

Typical Applications

L-theanine appears across the functional product spectrum: relaxation and evening-positioned beverages, focus and nootropic drink mixes, ready-to-drink teas and functional waters, gummies, capsules, tablets, and powdered beverage blends. In beverages it is most often paired with caffeine, botanicals, or adaptogen-positioned ingredients; in drink mixes its solubility keeps reconstitution simple.

Formulation Notes

• Solubility: freely soluble in water — a 1.0 g/20 mL solution is clear and colourless. No special dispersion equipment needed for beverage work.
• pH: the material itself runs 5.0–6.0 in solution, compatible with most beverage matrices without adjustment.
• Heat: with a melting range of 202 °C–215 °C, L-theanine holds up through hot-fill and typical thermal processing steps.
• Particle size: >80% through 50 mesh and >30% through 100 mesh — fine enough for dry blends and fast dissolution.
• Regulatory: L-theanine is listed in the NHPID. Inclusion levels and label claims on finished health-positioned products are governed by Health Canada's natural health product framework; consult the applicable monograph and secure an NPN where required.

Specifications at a Glance

• CAS number: 3081-61-6
• Assay: 98.0–102.0%
• Appearance: white to off-white crystalline powder
• Source: extracted from Camellia sinensis (green tea)
• Solubility: freely soluble in water (1.0 g/20 mL, clear colourless)
• Melting range: 202 °C–215 °C
• pH: 5.0–6.0
• Particle size: >80% through 50 mesh; >30% through 100 mesh
• Testing: heavy metals (Pb, Hg, Cd, As) and microbiology verified per lot
• Grade: food grade

Buying Bulk L-Theanine in Canada

LiquidShop supplies L-theanine 98% in bulk from 1 kg to 25 kg formats, with volume pricing at 5 kg and above. Every lot ships with a Certificate of Analysis available on request, and orders ship from Canada — no customs brokerage, no cross-border delays, no surprise duties.