Tea Pets!

I have several tea pets, but I don’t always use them. You can use them for any tea you brew gongfu. I think I got most of mine from Teaware House.

My tea pets haven’t actually been used yet (since I don’t have a tray), but I bought them at a store in China town that sells chopstick holders, little figurines, etc. They were only a few dollars each.

You don’t really use a tea pet for any part of the Gongfu session, they are purely decorative, I never had any for a long time until I started into tea photography. I find they can be a useful addition to photographs of your tea. I recently got some from Crimson Lotus Tea and have also bought a couple from Teaware.house as well as one from Missteapots on EBay.

I bought a small egg one (I know, lol) on a whim when I ordered my pot and now I’ll be getting some animal-shaped ones for christmas. Watching the tea soak in is one of most soothing experiences I’ve ever encountered. I like the clay’s texture but the color changing resin ones look neat, too.

I’ve bought mine from various stores in China.
I suppose I “use” them in the sense that I have two on my tea tray and pour the rinses over them from time to time.

One of mine is a Jin Chan “money toad” which is supposed to make you rich. Does it work? Absolutely, no question about it. I mean, personally I am still poor but I’m convinced the toad is just biding its time, waiting for the opportune moment :-)