Ethical Naturals Inc. (ENI), which for over 20 years has developed and fostered ingredients that demonstrate best quality practices, has launched MachaWave(TM) Organic Matcha with AlphaWave® L-Theanine for balanced energy, stress support, and cognitive performance.
As consumer demand grows for functional beverages that support both energy and mental well-being, formulators are increasingly seeking alternatives to traditional caffeine systems. MachaWave™ combines high-grade organic matcha with clinically studied AlphaWave® L-Theanine to provide sustained energy, mental clarity, and relaxed focus within a single ingredient system.
Todays’ gigantic matcha trend rests on a strong foundation. Its use goes back over a thousand years in China and Japan, where it was used by both Samuai warriors and Zen Buddhist monks for the same reason: it simultaneously supports calmness and alertness. Unlike conventional green tea, matcha is shade-grown prior to harvest, a process that supports the development of amino acids such as L-theanine, while contributing to its characteristic green color and concentrated nutrient profile. Published research suggests that matcha may support cognitive function, including aspects of memory and attention, while also helping reduce stress and anxiety through its naturally occurring combination of caffeine and L-theanine.[1][5]
In MachaWave™, this naturally occurring synergy is enhanced through the addition of AlphaWave® L-Theanine, ENI’s branded and clinically studied form of purified L-theanine. Clinical studies on AlphaWave® have demonstrated significant effects on stress response, relaxation without drowsiness, sleep quality, and cognitive attention.[2][3] In acute stress studies, AlphaWave® significantly increased frontal alpha brainwave activity while also reducing salivary cortisol levels compared to placebo, indicating a state of relaxed alertness. [2] A longer-term, 28-day placebo-controlled study further demonstrated improvements in sleep quality, reductions in perceived stress, and enhanced cognitive attention in moderately stressed adults. [3]
“MachaWave™ reflects growing consumer interest in products that deliver both cognitive support and balanced energy without overstimulation,” said ENI CEO Cal Bewicke. “The combination of organic matcha and clinically studied AlphaWave® L-Theanine provides formulators with a versatile ingredient system backed by both traditional use and modern clinical research.”
MachaWave™ is formulated for beverage, tea, and sports nutrition applications and can be incorporated into both hot and cold formats. The ingredient pairing supports structure/function positioning related to mental clarity, sustained attention, calm focus, reduced nervous tension, and balanced energy delivery. [2][3][4][6]
AlphaWave® L-Theanine is produced through a proprietary fermentation and purification process and is supported by three clinical studies investigating relaxation, stress management, focus, and mental acuity. AlphaWave® is GRAS affirmed for food and beverage use and is currently the only form of L-theanine approved by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for manufacturing use in listed medicines.
- Sokary S, Al-Asmakh M, Zakaria Z, Bawadi H. The therapeutic potential of matcha tea: A critical review on human and animal studies. Curr Res Food Sci. 2022;6:100396.
- Evans M, McDonald AC, Xiong L, Crowley DC, Guthrie N. A Randomized, Triple-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study to Investigate the Efficacy of a Single Dose of AlphaWave® L-Theanine on Stress in a Healthy Adult Population. Neurol Ther. 2021;10(2):1061–1078. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40120-021-00284-x
- Moulin M, Crowley DC, Xiong L, Guthrie N, Lewis ED. Safety and Efficacy of AlphaWave® L-Theanine Supplementation for 28 Days in Healthy Adults with Moderate Stress: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Neurol Ther. 2024;13:1135–1153. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40120-024-00624-7
- Haskell CF, Kennedy DO, Milne AL, Wesnes KA, Scholey AB. The effects of L-theanine, caffeine and their combination on cognition and mood. Biol Psychol. 2008;77(2):113–122.
- Williams JL, Everett JM, D’Cunha NM, et al. The Effects of Green Tea Amino Acid L-Theanine Consumption on the Ability to Manage Stress and Anxiety Levels: A Systematic Review. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2020;75:12–23.
- Gomez-Ramirez M, Higgins BA, Rycroft JA, et al. The deployment of intersensory selective attention: A high-density electrical mapping study of the effects of theanine. Clin Neuropharmacol. 2007;30(1):25–38.
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