This time of year can be busy. With school starting, mornings feeling rushed, and the pace of life picking back up after summer. At the same time, it can also be a time of renewed motivation, a desire to reset, return to routines, and feel a bit healthier after summer. With everything going on this time of year, most of us are looking for a bit more energy to keep up. 

 

The default solution is usually coffee. But more caffeine isn’t always what helps, especially if it leaves you feeling wired, anxious, or struggling to sleep at night.

That’s where matcha stands out, as it can offer a more balanced kind of energy.  Fall can be a natural time to rethink your routines and figure out what’s actually supporting you day to day. Even swapping just one cup of coffee for matcha may make a noticeable difference in how you feel. 

The problem with quick energy

Thanks to the caffeine, coffee works pretty fast. It increases alertness and can help you feel more awake within minutes. But that quick boost can come with a downside for some. 

Caffeine can raise cortisol (your body’s main stress hormone), especially when you drink it first thing in the morning or in large amounts. That can lead to a cycle of feeling “on” for a while, followed by a noticeable dip in energy.

For a lot of people, that might look like feeling jittery mid-morning, crashing in the afternoon, and feeling the need to reach for another cup just to keep going.

Over time, you may have noticed that coffee feels less like a support and more like a crutch that you need to feel normal or like yourself again. 

What makes matcha different

Matcha contains caffeine, but it also contains L-theanine. And this is what makes it so different. 

L-theanine is an amino acid naturally found in some foods and tea. Matcha contains some of the highest levels of L-theanine. It’s known as the relaxing amino acid and has been shown to promote a state of calm focus by influencing brain chemicals involved in mood and attention.

When caffeine and L-theanine are consumed together, as in matcha, they give you a different feeling than just drinking something with caffeine alone. 

Instead of a quick spike in energy, you can get a slower, more gradual boost, and instead of feeling overstimulated, you may notice you feel calm but alert. 

It’s this feeling that has matcha flying off shelves. 

What the research says

The effects of L-theanine are well studied. One study published in Nutritional Neuroscience found that combining caffeine with L-theanine improved attention and the ability to switch between tasks more effectively than caffeine alone. Participants also reported feeling less mentally fatigued.

Other research has shown that L-theanine can increase alpha brain wave activity, which is associated with a calm but alert mental state. So you feel steady instead of frantic.

Why matcha makes for a better back-to-routine drink 

Just swapping one coffee for a cup of matcha may make a big difference in how you feel and show up. 

At work, it can mean being able to stay focused without constantly zoning out or needing another cup of coffee. 

As a parent, steady energy may translate to more patience and less reactivity, especially during long or unpredictable days.

In your day-to-day routine, it can help give a better baseline, where you’re functioning at a higher, more even-tempered level. 

There’s also something to be said for the ritual of making matcha. Taking a few minutes to make matcha can act as a small reset before the day begins (or as a welcome pause in the afternoon). And those small, repeated habits can support things like circadian rhythm and overall energy regulation over time.

A More Sustainable Kind of Energy

The goal isn’t just to feel awake, but to feel good throughout the day.

Matcha may help support that by offering:

• A gentler, more sustained source of caffeine

• Improved focus without feeling jittery 

• Calmer, more stable energy overall

 Bottom line

When life gets busy, it’s easy to reach for whatever gives you the fastest boost. But fast doesn’t always mean better. Matcha feels different thanks to the unique combination of caffeine and L-theanine. Allowing you to feel a bit more balanced while still energized. During this shift in seasons, when things can get really busy at work and at home, that difference may feel very needed. 

Resources: 

Baba Y, Inagaki S, Nakagawa S, Kaneko T, Kobayashi M, Takihara T. Effects of l-Theanine on Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Subjects: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study. J Med Food. 2021 Apr;24(4):333-341. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2020.4803. Epub 2021 Mar 22. PMID: 33751906; PMCID: PMC8080935.

Williams JL, Everett JM, D'Cunha NM, Sergi D, Georgousopoulou EN, Keegan RJ, McKune AJ, Mellor DD, Anstice N, Naumovski N. 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 Mar;75(1):12-23. doi: 10.1007/s11130-019-00771-5. PMID: 31758301.

Dietz C, Dekker M. Effect of Green Tea Phytochemicals on Mood and Cognition. Curr Pharm Des. 2017;23(19):2876-2905. doi: 10.2174/1381612823666170105151800. PMID: 28056735.

Liu C, Wang L, Zhang C, Hu Z, Tang J, Xue J, Lu W. Caffeine intake and anxiety: a meta-analysis. Front Psychol. 2024 Feb 1;15:1270246. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1270246. PMID: 38362247; PMCID: PMC10867825.

Kochman J, Jakubczyk K, Antoniewicz J, Mruk H, Janda K. Health Benefits and Chemical Composition of Matcha Green Tea: A Review. Molecules. 2020 Dec 27;26(1):85. doi: 10.3390/molecules26010085. PMID: 33375458; PMCID: PMC7796401.