THE PRESENT INVENTION PROVIDES A BEVERAGE PRECURSOR COMPRISING BLACK LEAF TEA CHARACTERISED IN THAT THE PRECURSOR COMPRISES THEANINE IN AN AMOUNT OF AT LEAST 4% BY DRY WEIGHT OF THE PRECURSOR. THE INVENTION ALSO PROVIDES A PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING A BEVERAGE PRECURSOR WHEREIN BLACK TEA IS COATED WITH THEANINE AND THEN BLENDED WITH UNCOATED TEA.