Collection: Tea Pet / Tea Mascots

From:Wikipedia-Tea Pet

Tea pet or tea lover's pet (simplified Chinese: 茶宠; traditional Chinese: 茶寵; pinyin: cháchǒng), also known phonetically as chachong, is a small pottery figurine kept by some tea drinkers as an ornament or a good luck charm.[1] They are usually made of purple clay or zisha, a type of prized clay from the region near Yixing in Jiangsu province, China. Similar to Yixing teapots made from the same clay, tea pets are unglazed, and are mostly monochromatic with a rough surface.[2]

A tea pet is typically placed on a tea tray and has tea poured over it during tea time. Due to the tea pet not being glazed, the figurine absorbs some of the tea, resulting in the tea pet changing color over time, as well as building up a tea scent.

One of the most popular models for the tea pet is the "pee-pee boy", which, when first soaked in cold water and then showered with hot water, will squirt out the water it previously absorbed.[3] Tea pets are also molded into zodiac animals or Chinese mythical creatures such as dragons, pixiu and qilin to symbolize good luck, fortune and happiness, as well as historical or mythical characters such as Guanyin, Maitreya and Zhuge Liang.

Decoration and play: Tea pets are not only decorations on the tea table, they can also be used as a play object. In addition to tasting tea, people can appreciate and touch these small and delicate tea pets, enjoy the visual and tactile pleasure they bring. Different tea pets have different meanings, such as making money, good luck, etc., which can bring spiritual comfort and positive energy to tea friends

Collection and appreciation: Many tea pets are made of purple clay, ceramics or other precious materials, and have a certain collection value. Over time, some handmade tea pets may appreciate in value due to their uniqueness and rarity. Therefore, for collectors, tea pets are not only a hobby, but may also be a potential investment

Enhance the tea art experience: The presence of tea pets can add a sense of fun and ritual to the process of brewing and tasting tea leaves. For example, some tea pets are designed with hollow structures that produce the effect of bubbling or spraying water when poured with hot water. This interaction makes the tea tasting process more lively and interesting

Spiritual sustenance: Tea pets often carry rich cultural significance and auspicious connotations. For example, the golden toad and the brave animal were regarded as symbols of wealth, while the elephant represented luck and strength. In the process of raising tea pets, people are not only the maintenance of goods, but also a sustenance and expression of their wishes

Enhance the feng shui of the tea table: In traditional Chinese culture, tea pets are believed to enhance the feng shui of the tea table. For example, the golden toad and the brave animal can gather wealth, while the elephant can bring good luck and stability. Therefore, many people take feng shui factors into account when choosing and placing tea pets, hoping to bring good luck and protection to themselves and their families through tea pets

To sum up, tea pets not only have the value of decoration and play, but also have potential value-added space as a collection, and play an important role in the tea art experience. In addition, tea pets also carry profound cultural significance and spiritual sustenance, and are an indispensable part of tea culture