Little Buddha | tea pet

A little carved stone tea pet for your tea mornings.

€8.00

Product story

In Chinese culture, the mouse—or rat—is the first animal in the zodiac cycle. Clever, alert, and quick-witted, it represents intelligence, resourcefulness, and the start of new beginnings. Despite its humble size, the mouse is revered as a symbol of fertility and prosperity. It’s said that the mouse can slip through any door, find hidden paths, and make the most of the smallest opportunities. That nimbleness, both physical and mental, is why it’s long been honored in art and storytelling.

As a tea pet, the clay mouse embodies these qualities. Made from unglazed Yixing clay or purple sand (zisha), it’s porous and sensitive—just like fine teaware. Over time, as it is lovingly bathed in tea, the mouse develops a deepened color and soft sheen. Its small stature hides a quiet charm: poised at the edge of the tea tray, it watches over the tea session like a tiny guardian of intention and flow.

Some say the mouse teapet is especially lucky for entrepreneurs, students, or artists—anyone starting something new or needing sharp insight. Others simply enjoy its presence: curious, observant, slightly mischievous. The mouse teapet reminds us that in Gongfu tea, it’s the smallest gestures—warming the cups, washing the leaves, pouring with care—that carry the greatest meaning.

Stone

4.5x3x2.5 cm

DeHua, China

Product care

Using a teapet is a quiet, joyful part of the Gongfu tea ritual, connecting mindfulness with tradition. Here’s how to do it:

1. Place the teapet on your cha pan (tea tray) near the teapot or gaiwan—somewhere it can “witness” the ceremony.

2. Warm the vessels by pouring hot water over the gaiwan, pitcher, and cups—and then pour the excess water over the teapet. This is the mouse’s bath, a way to welcome it into the session.

3. Rinse the leaves in a quick first infusion. Instead of discarding this water down the drain, many pour it over the teapet as a gesture of respect to tea and tradition.

4. Throughout the session, when there’s extra tea left in the pot or fairness cup, you can share a bit with the teapet. Pour slowly, like feeding an old friend.

Over time the unglazed clay absorbs tea and grows richer in color and shine. Each tea session, each season, leaves a trace—marking the teapet as a silent witness to your tea journey.
Some people give their teapets names or bring them out only on special occasions. Others keep them always at the tray, part of the landscape. There’s no strict rule—only the quiet invitation to pour with care, observe with patience, and appreciate even the smallest companions.

Avoid Soap or Detergents – Never use soap, as the porous stone will absorb it. Instead, rinse thoroughly with hot water or don't rinse at all.

Dry Naturally – Let the teapet air dry completely.

Handle with Care – The teapet is unglazed and can be fragile. Avoid sudden temperature changes that may cause cracking.

More cute things for your tea ceremony

The Story of a Tea Pet

On the silent stage of the Chinese gongfu tea ceremony, every object has a role. The gaiwan cradles the leaves. The fairness pitcher equalizes the brew. And just beside them, quietly watching, sits a creature—perhaps a turtle, a dragon, a toad, or a mouse—made not of flesh or bone, but of clay. This is the cha chong (茶宠), the tea pet: part sculpture, part talisman, part ritual confidante.

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