MachaWave™: Organic Matcha with AlphaWave® L-Theanine for Balanced Energy and Cognitive Support

Approaches to daily energy are evolving. While traditional caffeine sources such as coffee remain widely used, there is growing demand for alternatives, especially for solutions that support stress management and cognitive performance. Functional beverages and alternative delivery formats are gaining traction as consumers seek products that enhance focus and mental clarity, along with added health benefits beyond basic energy support. This shift reflects increased demand for products that deliver both energy and focus within a single formulation, particularly in formats that integrate easily into daily routines.

MachaWave™ from Ethical Naturals (ENI) is a product that blends high-grade organic matcha with clinically studied AlphaWave® L-Theanine; it is designed to address this category, supporting stress relief, energy and cognition.

Matcha has been consumed for more than a thousand years in China and Japan and is traditionally valued for its ability to support both calmness and alertness. Unlike conventional green tea, matcha is cultivated under shade prior to harvest. This process contributes to its distinctive green color and supports the development and preservation of key bioactive compounds, including amino acids such as L-theanine. Following harvest, the leaves are finely milled into a concentrated powder, allowing for full-leaf consumption and a more complete delivery of its naturally occurring components.

Published research suggests that matcha supports cognitive function, including aspects of short- and long-term memory¹, while also helping to reduce stress and anxiety⁵. These effects are associated with its naturally occurring combination of caffeine and L-theanine, which work together to promote alertness alongside a more balanced physiological state⁴. This combination is of particular interest in product development, where the goal is to deliver consistent energy and focus without the inconsistency often associated with caffeine alone.

The MachaWave™ formula naturally enhances matcha’s ability to reduce stress while increasing energy and mental acuity. The formula is designed for tea and beverage applications, as well as sports performance drinks and mixes. It can easily be incorporated into both hot and cold formats, offering flexibility in product development while maintaining stability and ingredient integrity.

Structure/Function (S/F) Benefits and Claims

Clinical studies evaluating AlphaWave® L-Theanine demonstrate its ability to promote relaxation without drowsiness while maintaining alertness², along with reductions in stress-related markers³. These findings, observed in both acute and longer-term studies, support its use in formulations designed for ongoing consumption. When combined with matcha, this pairing is associated with cognitive performance and calm focus⁶, aligning with current demand for products that deliver both immediate and sustained benefits.

Due to the current clinical studies on AlphaWave® and historical use of matcha, any product using the MachaWave™ formula can carry the following types of S/F claims:

• Helps relax without drowsiness
• Promotes mental clarity and focus
• Reduces nervous tension

The combination of organic matcha and AlphaWave® L-Theanine is associated with cognitive performance, including mental clarity, focus, and sustained attention². This pairing promotes mental clarity and helps maintain attention across tasks that require consistent engagement. It also contributes to a relaxed state without drowsiness³, supporting alertness while helping to moderate responses to everyday stressors⁵. Clinical research on L-theanine further supports its role in promoting relaxation while maintaining cognitive function²,³, making it particularly relevant for applications targeting calm focus.

Through the interaction of caffeine and L-theanine, this combination may assist in reducing nervous tension⁵ while supporting a more balanced physiological state⁶. L-theanine has been associated with changes in brain activity linked to relaxed alertness⁶, and when combined with caffeine, may enhance performance on tasks requiring both speed and accuracy without overstimulation⁴. From a formulation perspective, the pairing of matcha and AlphaWave® L-Theanine enables the development of multifunctional products in a variety of delivery formats that address mental clarity and focus, relaxation without drowsiness, reduction in nervous tension, and sustained energy within a single system²,³,⁴.

Together, these attributes position the ingredient combination for use in a range of functional formats, including beverages, powders, and other delivery systems designed for regular consumption. Its ability to support both mental performance and a balanced physiological response makes it well suited for products intended for use throughout the day.

AlphaWave® holds Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) affirmation for food and beverage use in the United States, and Natural Health Product licensing in Canada. It is the only form of L-Theanine to receive approval for inclusion in listed medicines from Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in 2023, a process that requires meeting rigorous safety and efficacy standards.

MachaWave™ is manufactured and distributed through ENI’s NSF cGMP certified facility in Redwood City California.

References

1. 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.
2. Moulin M, Crowley D.C., Xiong L. et al. 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.
3. Evans M, McDonald A.C., Xiong L. et al. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.