what is a tea pet

A tea pet, also known as Chachong, is a small pottery figure that is kept by some tea drinkers for good luck. They are usually made of unglazed Yixing clay, which is porous and absorbent to water, and are placed on a tea tray during tea time. Tea is poured over the tea pet during the tea ceremony, and the figurine absorbs some of the tea, resulting in the tea pet changing color over time and building up a tea scent. Tea pets can be shaped like animals or other objects, and some tea pets can even test water for the right temperature. Tea pets date back to the Yuan Dynasty in 13th century China, and they are still popular today. Tea pets are typically handmade using unglazed Yixing clay, which can be purple, red, or green, and a tea pet can be made from either one of these clays or a mixture of two to produce different colors. The maintenance of a tea pet is similar to that of a Yixing clay teapot. Leftover tea or leaf-rinsing water is typically poured over a tea pet, and a tea brush is used to wipe the surface of the tea pet to help it absorb the tea evenly. Tea pets should be only rinsed with water, without using soap or any dish-washing liquid, to ensure a progressive increase in the color of the tea.