A tea pet is typically placed on a tea tray and has tea poured over it during tea time. Due to the tea pets are usually made from Yixing Zisha clay with its unglazed nature, the figurine absorbs some of the tea, resulting in the tea pet changing colour over time, as well as building up a tea scent. Tea pets can be zodiac animals or some Chinese mythical creatures such as dragons, Jin Chan (three-legged toad), Pixiu and Qilin to symbolise good luck, fortune and happiness, as well as any animals or fruits such as pig, duck, bird etc. whatever you desire.
