Our fascination with tea has inspired us to read the works of ancient Chinese and Japanese sages whose wisdom comes to us in prose, poetry, medical treatises, and Buddhist teachings. In ancient Chinese medical documents, tea's bitter flavor is a source of vital energy. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the consumption of tea encourages the heart to pump blood more effectively through the body, the glands to regulate hormones efficiently, the cells to be bathed in nutrients, and the kidneys to eliminate waste products expediently. Traditional Chinese medicine classifies black tea as a “bitter” flavor and green tea as “bitter with a hint of pungency.” The pungent flavor of green tea helps the heart and the lungs to work together, beating and breathing moment to moment. When we breathe fully, we feel refreshed, our brains and cells get more oxygen, and our perceptions become clearer.