Tea pets are small traditional figures made of rough, porous clay. They are also known as ‘tea friends’ or ‘tea lover’s pet’. They are produced in China and collected by enthusiasts across the world, who use them as part of their daily tea ritual.

Use or Ornament?

As well as being decorative additions to your serving tray, tea pets are viewed as tokens of good luck, happiness, fortune, and health. They often depict animals in the Chinese Zodiac, or mythical creatures such as Dragons or ‘Golden Toads’. Designs also include religious icons such as Kuan Yin (The Goddess of Mercy) and even political figures such the revered military strategist, KongMing.

Where do they come from?

Tea pets originate from the Jiangsu Province in Yixing. This location is famed for Yixing or ‘Zisha’ clay, with a heritage that dates to the Song Dynasty. To this day this industrious province remains a major hub for the manufacturing of teapots, mugs and other tea-wares.

Materials

These adorable figurines are hand sculpted by teapot artisans, from three types of clay:

• Purple Clay: This is a primary clay that transforms into a rich brown after firing. Iron clay is sometimes added by the artisan to create a deeper colour.
• Red Clay: This vermillion colour clay has a higher contraction percentage than purple clay, so is better suited to making small figures and objects.
• Green Clay: This clay is more expensive and rarer than the other two. The effect is a pale white finish with slightly blue hue similar to duck egg.

Looking after your Tea Pet

Maintenance of your tea pet is pretty much the same as caring for a Yixing teapot. It should be rinsed in clean water without the use of detergents or soap.

Left over tea is poured over and a special tea brush can be used to ensure that the tea is absorbed evenly over the figure. Over many years the tea pet will become glossy as the tea permeates the clay and becomes more nourished.

Feng Shui & Tea Pets

It is said that tea pets are closely linked to the principals of Feng Shui (meaning, wind & water). This ancient Chinese art aims to create harmony with your environment through the careful positioning of objects.

Depending on what your tea pig represents will determine where you should place it. For instance; the Laughing Buddha is a symbol of good luck and prosperity. The Buddha's smile offers hospitality to guests and should face the front door. In contrast, the Money Frog or Golden Toad is a symbol of personal wealth and should directly face you, the tea drinker.

Final Thoughts

Tea pets are wonderful things to collect and cherish. They can be used as tokens of good luck and as their appearance changes of the years, they will serve as a reminder of all the lovely cups of tea you have enjoyed.