Tea Pets - Traditional Companions for Your Tea Journey

Ships from Hobart, Tasmania | Free Delivery Over $95

Tea pets are small clay companions for your tea table. As you pour leftover tea over them during each tea session, they gradually transform - developing rich colours and a polished finish that tells the story of your tea practice.

Our Tea Pet Collection

We stock traditional Yixing clay tea pets and interactive companions from $10 to $45. Each one brings its own personality to your tea time.

Traditional Yixing Clay Companions

Chubby cats - $30

Round, friendly faces that bring instant smiles to your tea table. These charming companions develop beautiful patina over months of tea nourishing. The white areas naturally darken, creating unique patterns based on your tea choices - no two ever look quite the same after a few months of care.

Resting cats - $35

A peaceful companion stretched out in complete contentment. Made from pure white Yixing clay that transforms dramatically with regular tea care. This one's lovely to watch develop - the transformation from bright white to rich amber tones happens gradually, showing your dedication to the practice.

Little mouse - $45

Charming detail work in this seated mouse companion. The texture and fine features make it particularly satisfying to watch transform. Develops rich, deep colours with oolong or pu-erh tea, and the detailed surface creates interesting patterns as the patina builds up.

Little chick - $10

Our most affordable tea pet - round, cheerful, and perfect for beginners exploring tea pet care. Don't let the small size fool you - this little companion develops character just like its more expensive cousins. Great for testing whether tea pet care is something you enjoy before investing in larger pieces.

Interactive Companions

Spitting frogs - $28

These clever frogs use centuries-old thermal engineering to spit water when you pour hot tea over them. Fill with cold water, pour hot tea, and watch the water display. In ancient China, tea masters used them to test water temperature.

What does "raising" a tea pet mean?

During each tea session, pour your leftover tea over your clay companion. The porous clay absorbs the tea, building up oils and minerals that gradually change the colour and texture.

Over 2-6 months, your tea pet develops what's called a "patina" - a lustrous, polished surface. The colour deepens, the finish becomes smooth, and your tea pet takes on character that's unique to your tea habits.

Timeline:

• First 2-8 weeks: You'll see immediate colour changes when hot tea hits the clay. These become permanent as the clay absorbs tea compounds.
• 2-6 months: Beautiful lustre and rich colours develop. This is when the transformation really shows.
• 6+ months: Full maturation brings a polished, almost wooden finish.

Choosing your tea pet

Follow your instincts: Pick the one that makes you smile. That initial connection usually leads to the most enjoyable relationships.

Consider your tea table space: Check the dimensions - larger tea pets need more room, while smaller ones fit nicely on compact tea trays.

Two transformation types:

• Interactive companions: Spitting frogs give immediate entertainment through their water displays
• Slow transformers: Yixing clay tea pets develop gradually over months of dedicated care - the journey is the reward

Starting out? The little chick ($10) or chubby cat ($30) are excellent first tea pets. They're forgiving to care for and show beautiful transformations without requiring expensive teas.

How many do you need? There's no limit. Many tea lovers collect several and line them up together. Some people pour tea over each one during tea time (though that means less tea for drinking!).

Tea pet etiquette: When visiting someone for tea, only the host pours tea over their tea pets. If you'd like to help feed their companions, ask first - it's part of tea culture courtesy.

Best teas for tea pet care

Oolong tea: Creates stunning amber-brown patinas. Our Taiwanese high mountain oolongs produce particularly beautiful results on white Yixing clay.

Pu-erh tea: Develops deep, earthy colours. Raw pu-erh creates lighter tones, ripe pu-erh produces rich, dark colours.

Most teas work for tea pet care - these two are simply the most popular among enthusiasts.

Tip for Yixing clay tea pets: Stick to one type of tea for the most beautiful, even colour development. Your tea pet will also absorb that tea's fragrance over time.

Caring for your tea pet

Daily ritual: Place your tea pet within easy reach on your tea tray. Pour leftover tea over it during or after each session.

Cleaning: Brush gently with warm water if tea stains build up. Never use soap - those tea oils create the patina you're working towards.

Be patient: The best transformations happen slowly. You're not just colouring clay - you're creating a companion that reflects your tea journey.

Our story with tea pets

When I first learned tea ceremony in Beijing, tea pets weren't part of the practice. But travelling through tea regions with Zachary, we kept seeing these charming companions everywhere.

Zachary bought his first tea pet - a qilin (gold-swallowing beast). Watching him pour tea over it each morning, seeing how much joy this simple ritual brought, I understood. It wasn't just tradition - it was companionship.

Caring for a tea pet adds mindfulness to tea time. You're not just drinking tea; you're nurturing something that grows alongside your practice.

Complete your tea setup

Explore our related collections:

• Oolong Tea - Traditional favourite for tea pet nourishment
• Pu-erh Tea - Creates beautiful transformations on clay surfaces
• Teaware - Tea trays, brewing vessels, and accessories