90 vegan capsules with green tea leaf · UPC 733739001450
NOW L-Theanine 100 mg is a low-cost-per-capsule option if you want 100 mg of theanine per capsule and are comfortable with 250 mg of added decaffeinated green tea leaf. Its label requires taking it with food. No efficacy trial of this exact formula or independent finished-lot test result was verified for this review.
Before ordering: the seller lists the capsule UPC but has a conflicting chewable table. Confirm the bottle label with HerbsPro.
NOW's label limits this product to adults and directs one capsule one to two times daily with food. Do not take it on an empty stomach or exceed those directions. Consult a healthcare professional before use if you are pregnant or nursing, take medicine, or have a medical condition, including liver disease. Do not assume a non-drowsy response; avoid driving if you feel sleepy.
The manufacturer's US label identifies this product as 90 vegan capsules with 100 mg of L-theanine per one-capsule serving, UPC 733739001450. A NOW 200 mg capsule or chewable is a different product. Do not assume those versions share this capsule's full formula or directions.
The matched HerbsPro listing has a significant inconsistency: its title, UPC and photo identify this capsule, but its ingredient and directions table describes a chewable. Ask the seller to confirm the capsule UPC and Supplement Facts panel before ordering. For this capsule, follow NOW's with-food directions, not the seller's chewable or empty-stomach instructions.
What the green tea leaf adds
The additional 250 mg is the weight of decaffeinated green tea leaf, not another 250 mg of theanine. The label names leaf rather than a concentrated green tea extract. Decaffeinated is not a caffeine-free guarantee, and the leaf weight alone does not establish how much caffeine remains.
Green tea leaf and concentrated extract should not be assigned equivalent liver risk simply because both come from the same plant. That distinction also does not establish that this capsule is risk-free. The label's caution for people with liver disease still applies.
What the evidence shows
A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover trial studied 200 mg/day of L-theanine for four weeks in 30 adults without major psychiatric illness. Some sleep and stress questionnaire outcomes improved. The small sample and short duration limit what can be concluded.
The trial studied L-theanine as an ingredient, not this NOW combination with green tea leaf. It does not establish that this formula treats an anxiety disorder or chronic insomnia, or guarantee a response without drowsiness. The study amount is evidence context, not advice to double these capsules.
NOW's Intertek GMP claim concerns manufacturing practices. It is not the same as independent potency certification for a finished lot.
Compare cost at the same declared amount
On October 15, 2026, the matched HerbsPro offer was $12.27 for 90 capsules before shipping and tax, or about $0.136 per 100 mg capsule. The seller-table conflict described above still needs confirmation before purchase. A 90-capsule bottle is not automatically a 90-day supply because the label's frequency varies.
For a hypothetical comparison with another product labeled 200 mg per capsule, compare its price for one capsule with about $0.273 for two NOW 100 mg capsules. This is price arithmetic at the same declared theanine amount, not a recommendation to take two capsules. The formulas are not automatically equivalent: two of these NOW capsules would also supply 500 mg of decaffeinated green tea leaf.
Our editorial assessment
Supplement Explained Score
56/100
Five equally weighted criteria. This is an editorial assessment, not customer stars or a measure of medical effectiveness.
Label clarity 4/5
NOW's exact capsule label and UPC are clear, but the matched merchant has a misfiled chewable table; the review identifies and does not combine these versions.
Research relevance 2/5
A small four-week trial used 200 mg theanine, not this 100 mg capsule plus green tea leaf. It cannot establish treatment of insomnia or an anxiety disorder.
Safety and cautions 3/5
The with-food requirement, adult-only scope, liver/medicine cautions and possible drowsiness require attention; decaffeinated does not prove zero caffeine.
Testing and quality checks 2/5
The reviewed sources provide manufacturer/GMP information, not an independently verified potency and contaminant report for this finished lot.
Value for money 3/5
The $12.27/90 offer is about $0.136 per capsule, but unresolved seller-table details require confirmation and two capsules add more green tea leaf, not just more theanine.
Evaluated from the published Supplement Facts panel, third-party certification records, and clinical references cited below. Unlisted third-party testing lowers the verification score but does not imply contamination.
