What are tea pets?

During Gong fu cha, placed on trays one sees not only gaiwans, teapots and teacups, but often small figurines depicting animal, human or mythological forms. These are the so-called tea pets (茶宠, Chinese for “tea animal”), also called tea figurines or tea animals.

They are objects that add an aura of magic to the tea ceremony, and each of us can “adopt” our own tea pets to make them part of our tea tastings. In Italy you can easily find them on some websites that sell tea and oriental tea objects. If you are curious about what they are, how to choose them and keep them at their best, I invite you to read on, because now we will find out together…

 

They are small earthenware objects used as decoration on the tray for the Chinese tea ritual. During Gong fu cha they will be wetted with tea, with the water used to rinse the leaves or with the water used to heat and clean the tea equipment. Bathing them with tea the first time, according to Chinese tradition, will give them a soul, and consecutive times will ensure that they will “feed” on the tea and be able to release their powers. The virtue of each tea pet will depend on the symbol represented by the figurine and the meaning and importance given to it by the person or family caring for it. There are families that pass down some tea pets from generation to generation so that they can bestow upon the generations to come all the wisdom of the ancestors. In addition to their magical powers, tea figurines have the ability to promote concentration and relaxation when used as meditative objects on which to focus one’s attention during the tea ritual.

Over time, the tea pet will tend to become shiny, darker, uniform, and tea-scented, especially if you always use only one type of tea for each tea pet and take care to spread it evenly over it with a brush or handkerchief (just as you do with earthenware teapots).

The origins of tea pets

The origins of tea pets are indeed ancient and confusing, but these items became famous in China during the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279). They were particularly flourishing for the country and consequently for the world of tea. In fact, in the city of Chaozhou, Gong fu cha as we know it today was beginning to become established, and while tea was previously prepared and drunk in the common utensils used for drinking and eating, during these years, objects specifically for tea began to be created.

Yixing, in particular, a place famous for its clay and the earthenware derived from it, began to be known for its creations, such as teapots, bowls, cups and tea animals. The use of these objects and the application of precise techniques to their preparation will ensure that tea will no longer be a simple food or cure, but will rise to something sacred and almost otherworldly that needs ritual and figures capable of giving magical benefits to the men who use them.

How to choose a tea pet?

Tea pets are fired clay figurines that can sometimes be glazed, but never entirely since otherwise they would have no way to absorb the tea. The typical clay for tea pets is Yixing clay. There are three types of Yixing clay that can be used individually or mixed to give rise to different colors, they are:

• Purple Yixing clay, the one mainly used, is brick-colored or dark brown after firing; artisans often add ferrous powders to make the color more intense;
• Red Yixing clay, called “stock yellow” after being fired it tends to vermilion and is particularly suitable for creating very small objects;
• Green Yixing clay, is the rarest and most expensive. Post-firing it turns out milky in color.
• If Yixing clay tea pet is not available to us, it is important that they are not made of material other than earthenware, otherwise they would not be able to absorb the tea and thus slowly change their appearance and fragrance.

You can choose from different types of tea pet: there are the classic lucky charms, those that change color, channel and spray water (the first one to be created is the famous pee-pee boy), and those that thanks to the water tend to make movements. The figure can be chosen according to personal taste or the meaning it embodies, which we will see in the next section.

Symbology of tea pets

Tea pet figurines have shapes that are usually symbolic of the abilities they have. Some then come from myths and legends, others from the Chinese zodiac. Let’s look at some symbols together.

Chinese zodiac animals:

• Mouse, bearer of charm and attraction
• Buffalo or bull, instills patience and confidence
• Tiger, gives sensitivity and courage
• Rabbit, brings success in business
• Dragon, bearer of health and energy
• Snake, infuses wisdom and dispenses generosity
• Horse, brings joy
• Sheep or goat, symbol of elegance and artistic gifts
• Monkey, bestows skill and flexibility
• Dog, symbol of fidelity and loyalty
• Rooster, points the way of reason
• Pig, bestows courage and kindness.

Other figures:

• Maitreya Buddha, figure with fat belly and big smile, is tolerant and relaxed. This figure used in Gong fu cha attracts a happy and joyful future
• Three-legged toad, or “lucky frog,” this figure attracts wealth. In case it holds a coin in its mouth, the toad, it should be positioned facing so that it hands the coin to the owner, if its mouth is empty it should be positioned with its back to the owner so that it attracts wealth
• Carp, gives courage and perseverance
• Bat, brings good luck and joy
• Chinese cabbage, called “pack choy” (literally “pack” center and “choy” wealth) or “boi coi”
• (hundred years of wealth). It is a typical symbol in business circles
• Peanuts, symbolizing birth and fertility.

How to care for a tea pet

There are precise rules and methods for choosing, keeping and using one’s tea pet in the best possible way. Some of these were written about 200 years before they became popularly established in tea paraphernalia. Here they are in brief:

• The size should be moderate, so that the tea pet is comfortable to carry and pet (yes, just like a puppy)
• You can name the tea pet during the first tea shower, the one that will activate it and allow it to have a soul of its own
• The tea pet should be “fed” only tea, even better if always the same kind. Avoid wetting it with clean water because it would impair the change in color and scent due to the accumulation of tea polyphenols inside the pores of the figurine
• Any type of tea can be used, the best being Pu-Erh as it tends to change the characteristics of the clay more, black and oolong teas come next. By using green teas or white teas instead, the transformation will be slower and less consistent;
• You can brush the tea onto the tea pet with a brush or rub it with a tea-moistened handkerchief in order to make the absorption more even, just as you do with Yixing teapots
• Do not soak the tea pet in tea water, this is a practice that in the long run leads to the loss of accumulated color
• Absolutely avoid washing the tea pet with soaps or detergents that could be harsh and ruin the figurine, as well as compromise its fragrance.

Where to buy tea pets

If you are unable to travel to China, you can turn to your local tea store or take a look at some specialized ecommerce.