When you start your tea journey and engage with Gong Fu Cha, the art of tea preparation, you will quickly find joy in setting up your own tea set. Alongside a tea tray, a small vessel (teapot or gaiwan), a fairness cup (Gong Dao Bei), and small cups, you will also quickly come across tea pets, also known as 茶宠 (Cha Chong).
Tea pets (the German translation "Teehaustier" unfortunately doesn't sound very nice) are often small clay figures that sit on the tea tray. They are decorative and are usually made of unglazed clay. During Gong Fu Cha tea preparation, the tea leaves are activated and washed by the first infusion. This process flushes away fine tea dust and impurities, and bitter compounds and astringency are also often released in the first infusion. The tea becomes softer with the next infusion and unfolds its potential. This first infusion, which is not drunk anyway, is poured over the tea pet. Due to the porous structure of the tea pet clay, aromas and colors from the tea can settle over time.
They can also serve as lucky charms or drinking companions and are a reminder that drinking tea can be a slow and mindful act. Over time, the little animals change color, become glossier, and take on a tea scent. To preserve the color and scent, it is important not to clean them with dish soap or brushes.
Tea pets likely originated during the Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368) in Yixing, the center of Zisha pottery (purple clay) and the place of origin for the well-known Yixing teapots. They emerged primarily as a byproduct of teapot production. Even back then, they already served as lucky charms.
Although tea pets have a centuries-old tradition, they experienced a new worldwide boom due to the popularity of Gong Fu Cha, which became modern in Taiwan in the 1970s and later in China again. Different figures can represent different things. Pigs traditionally stand for happiness and contentment, for example, the figure of a monk for peace and mindfulness, and the elephant for strength, wisdom, happiness, and longevity.
There are now all kinds of types; some can change color, and others squirt water when they are poured over. The tea pet is submerged in cold water until it is saturated. If you then pour boiling hot water over it, the air inside expands abruptly and pushes the water out through a tiny opening.
Tea pets are still a niche product in Germany and only available to a limited extent. Since we ourselves spent a long time searching for original tea pets, it was clear that we had to include them in our range. Alongside quality, one criterion was most important to us: they must bring joy when seen on the tea tray.
If you are still missing a tea pet, please feel free to browse our shop!
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