Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Essential amino acids are those the human body cannot synthesise and must get from the diet.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Phenylalanine is one of the ten essential amino acids, along with valine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan, histidine and arginine. It must be taken in through the diet.
Step 3: Why the other options are wrong.
Tyrosine (B) is made in the body from phenylalanine, so it is non-essential. Glutamine (C) and alanine (D) are also made by the body from other compounds and are non-essential.
Final Answer:
Phenylalanine is the essential amino acid, option (A).
\[ \boxed{\text{Phenylalanine (A)}} \]