Naturally, the Qi flowing through the tea we drink daily influences how we feel. It also flows through the clay (or other materials) of our teaware and tea pets. Whether you practice Feng Shui in your daily life or not, tea pets are always a fun and cute way to brighten up any tea ceremony! The rabbit is yet another auspicious symbol of the Chinese horoscope. It represents good virtues such as kindness and grace. This mystical creature stemming from Chinese mythology has the head of a dragon and the body of a lion, with a horn on its head. According to mythology, it only appears at times of peace. Thus, placing it on the tea table brings peace and kindness into our lives.

Frog Teapot Set - Etsy UK

Another Chinese zodiac sign. The monkey represents curiosity, wit, and intelligence. Most commonly, we see this tea pet in the form of The Three Wise Monkeys: see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. While the image of The Three Wise Monkeys originated in Japan, it is based on Confucian teachings, which are deeply tied into Chinese culture.

Literally, Feng Shui means “wind-water.” It is a practice that aims to connect people with their natural surroundings, harmonizing the body and soul. Furthermore, Feng Shui followers believe we should place elephants in prosperous places, full of light, life, and plants. The cha ban is a perfect place for the elephant to rest. This Yixing clay tea pet is a meditating Bodhidharma. Bodhidharma was a 5th-6th century Indian monk who brought Chan Buddhism to China and inspired the creation of Shaolin Kungfu. He has popularly become known in Japan as "Daruma". Fengshui (Chinese geomancy) is a practice originating from ancient China. Nowadays, many homes across Eastern Asian countries naturally incorporate feng shui. Furthermore, this philosophy has steadily spread to many other countries all over the world. Coming from the Chinese zodiac, in China, the pig has always been a symbol of wealth, good fortune, and generosity. The pig’s plump shape is attractive and cute. It is undoubtedly one of our favorite tea animals!

Frog Tea Set - Etsy New Zealand Frog Tea Set - Etsy New Zealand

You can find the carp adorning many traditional Chinese and Japanese homes and business establishments. It is no surprise this fish swam its way onto the chaban (tea tray!). The carp is the ultimate symbol of abundance and is always present during many festivals and celebrations.

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The elephant is one of the most popular tea pets in the gong fu tea world. These animals are strong, kind, gentle, and peaceful. According to Feng Shui, elephants symbolize water and wealth. It is no wonder they are such a desired tea pet on the tea table where tea and water should flow freely and abundantly! Because one of the Chinese characters for “peanuts” in Chinese means “birth”, people naturally associate peanuts with fertility. Having a tea pet in the form of peanuts does not only represent fertility but is also a unique form of art that is interesting to look at. This tea pet is not as popular as the before-mentioned ones but is quite artistic in its nature.

Frog Tea Set - Etsy UK

If enjoying a tea ceremony in the company of friends, it is a nice gesture to have the Buddha tea pet facing your guests, so that he can share his joy with everyone! The pronunciation of this vegetable in Chinese is “Pak Choy” in Cantonese, or "Bai Cai" in Mandarin. “Pak” or "Bai" means a hundred, and “choy” or "Cai", while meaning vegetable, has a similar pronunciation to the character that means "wealth". Thus, it is the symbol of a hundred years of wealth. In FengShui, the Bok Choi is a familiar statue to adorn business establishments with. It is usually made of precious stones like jade and not clay. You have probably seen this Buddha many times and have smiled from his presence. He is a fat-bellied Buddha with a broad smile on his face. Maitreya Buddha is all-tolerating and relaxed. With his big smile, he attracts a happy and joyous tomorrow. The principals of Feng Shui use energy, otherwise known as Qi (like in cha qi). It is how we utilize this energy (contained in our bodies, nature, and objects), which will influence our overall well-being.It is hard to see vegetables as a tea “pet” per se. However, they have become popular items on the tea table throughout recent years. The Coin Frog is very particular as to where it should live. Thus, never place the toad facing the door! If the frog is holding a coin in its mouth — place it facing you during the tea ceremony. On the other hand, if there is no coin — it should be facing the same direction as you. Meaning it will wait and attract wealth to come. The Golden Toad is a particular creature and doesn’t like to be touched by those who are not his owner!