Global demand for L-theanine continues to grow, with my country being the largest producer

L-theanine, naturally present in tea, is a unique amino acid of tea. Its content in tea varies depending on the variety of tea, and generally accounts for 1%-2% of the weight of dry tea. L-Theanine, with the chemical formula C7H14N2O3, appears as white crystalline powder, odorless, sweet and sour, easily soluble in water, and insoluble in ethanol and ether.

Tea contains more than 20 kinds of amino acids. Protein amino acids account for a larger proportion and non-protein amino acids account for a smaller proportion, but their functions are more important. Among non-protein amino acids, L-theanine is the most important product type. It directly affects the taste of tea and is the characteristic amino acid of tea. L-theanine accounts for a relatively large proportion of the amino acids in tea. It is synthesized from glutamic acid and ethylamine in the roots of the tea tree under the action of theanine synthase, and is transmitted to the leaves through the branches. In commonly cultivated tea leaves, L-theanine will be converted into catechin in sunlight, and tea leaves cultivated in the dark have higher L-theanine content.

L-theanine can be prepared by chemical synthesis, extraction and separation, microbial fermentation and other processes. L-theanine can promote the generation of alpha waves on the surface of the brain, making people relaxed, comfortable and happy, can relieve anxiety and improve sleep quality; can increase the content of neurotransmitters, thereby protecting nerves and improving memory; can activate immune cells and promote their Proliferate, thereby improving human immunity, reducing the probability of infection, and enhancing anti-tumor cell capabilities; in addition, it also has antioxidant, blood pressure lowering and other functions.

According to the “China L-Theanine Project Investment Feasibility Research Report 2022-2027” released by the Industrial Research Center, L – Theanine is highly safe and has no toxic side effects. It can be used in the production and processing fields of medicine, health products, food, etc. It can also be used to prepare pyrrolidone carboxylic acid under high-pressure heating conditions. Among them, the field of preparing health products to improve sleep quality has attracted the most attention. . In 2021, the global L-theanine market size will be approximately US$49.5 million. It is expected to continue to grow at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 6.2% from 2022 to 2027, and the market size will reach US$71.02 million by 2027.

Industry analysts said that on a global scale, China is the largest producer of L-theanine, with its output accounting for 10% of the total global output. The proportion reached about 78%. At the same time, the demand for L-theanine in our market is also growing. In 2014, the Ministry of Health approved L-theanine as a new food raw material. L-theanine can be used as a food additive and nutritional fortification in my country. agent. However, compared with the United States and Europe, my country still has fewer types of L-theanine-related health foods and functional foods, and there is still much room for improvement in the future.

In overseas markets, the main manufacturers of L-theanine include Blue California in the United States, Taiyo Kagaku in Japan, etc.; in the Chinese market, the main manufacturers of L-theanine include Shanghai Nord Biological Industrial Co., Ltd., Chengdu Huagao Biological Products Co., Ltd., Sichuan Tongsheng Amino Acid Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Tianrui Chemical Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Quzhou Zhuoer Chemical Co., Ltd., etc.