For many people who love tea, "raising a cat and a dog is not as good as raising a tea pet", so many tea lovers will regard tea pets as their favorite in their tea rooms. Tea pets, as the name suggests, are the pets of tea people, the companion nourished by tea, or the companion of tea tasting.
Tea pets are usually made from pottery techniques such as purple sand or clear mud, but some are porcelain or wooden knick-knacks. During the curing process, it only needs to be watered with tea to maintain its warm and smooth feel. In daily cleaning, it needs to be cleaned with a brush and wiped regularly with a tea cloth to maintain a certain degree of shine. Like raising a purple clay pot, raising a tea pet requires patience, and the longer the time, the more spiritual the tea pet will be.
Tea pets first appeared during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) in China, originally derived from dolls in court culture, and with the spread and development of tea culture, tea pets gradually evolved into a popular tea drinking prop and cultural symbol. They are usually beautifully crafted and come in a variety of forms, including images of animals, people, and landscapes. By appreciating the tea pets, people can immerse themselves in a wonderful spiritual experience, enhancing the cultural atmosphere and sense of ritual during the tea tasting.
Common tea pets can be divided into several types:
Implication of tea pets: such as Pixiu, golden toad, golden pig, etc., symbolizing wealth, auspiciousness and other meanings.
Water spray tea pets: Usually in the shape of a child, you can make them "pee" by pouring hot water to add fun.
Color-changing Tea Pet: Made with temperature-sensitive and color-changing resin, it will show a colorful change after steeping hot tea, and return to its original color when cooled.
When choosing a tea pet, tea lovers should consider the absorption of the material into the tea and the fun of the shape. According to personal preference, choose the tea pet that suits you. On the premise of ensuring beauty and fun, choosing a tea pet that fits your soul will add more fun and meaning to the tea tasting.