"Tea is perceived as more relaxing than coffee, even though both contain caffeine. L-theanine in tea may account for the difference."
Tea already contains both substances. Adding coffee would only up the caffeine levels + whatever else is in coffee. Unless I'm misunderstanding the abstract, this seems to argue for only drinking tea to get both the "cognitive effects" and the calming effect of L-theanine.
Some people, myself included, prefer the taste of coffee, though. So if I can just add some flavorless theanine and get some nice cognitive effects out of the deal, that's great.
You wouldn't mix tea in your coffee to do that. You would just buy L-Theanine powder and mix it in. It's not flavorless but due to the small quantity needed you shouldn't taste it once mixed in your coffee
Sure, but the folks in HK might enjoy that particular mix, right? I'm just trying to say that mixing in tea with your coffee isn't pointless or run counter to this particular study.
Coffee has other side-effects. If you are trying to quit smoking, for example, the task at hand will be far easier if you do not drink coffee. Nicotine breaks down caffeine and smokers who are coffee drinkers are subjected to heightened agitation due to increased caffeine intake when they stop smoking. Psychologically, this higher level of agitation is misinterpreted as nicotine cravings. It’s a vicious circle.
Fair disclosure: I love the aroma of coffee and am a coffee drinker and a smoker. They are like bad friends for whom I have developed fond feelings.
Tea already contains both substances. Adding coffee would only up the caffeine levels + whatever else is in coffee. Unless I'm misunderstanding the abstract, this seems to argue for only drinking tea to get both the "cognitive effects" and the calming effect of L-theanine.