Tea Pet

A tea pet (茶寵, chá chǒng — 'tea darling') is a small unglazed Yixing clay figure that sits on the gongfu tea tray and is fed rinse water and overflow tea during every session. Over weeks and months, the zisha clay absorbs the tea's oils and tannins, deepens in colour and develops a personal history — a warm surface sheen that no new object can replicate. Classic forms carry meaning: the frog summons wealth, the ox brings diligence, the laughing buddha brings ease. Every piece is hand-finished in Yixing, Jiangsu Province.