The Tea Pets.
Also called the Tea Companions, Tea-Pets are small figurines placed on the tray used for the tea ceremony, the Gong Fu Cha. They exist in all kinds, Representative, animals, monks, babies, a lotus flower, vegetables or a happy Buddha.

The origin of Tea-Pets
Tea companions are often related to ancestors, mystical creatures, good luck and good fortune. It is an offering made in respect to the elders, or the creatures that haunt our nightmares. We will enjoy sharing the tea ceremony with them and it is an opportunity to make some wishes for prosperity and protection.

Why and how to use tea-Pets?
The Tea-Pet is sprinkled with the water from the tea preparation. This action is synonymous with purification, renewal and good luck. It’s also a way of assessing the temperature of the water used to prepare the tea. Depending on the steam and the speed of evaporation of the water on the clay, the master of ceremonies will be able to determine whether the water is at the right temperature. By sprinkling a few drops of tea on the tea companions, it’s possible to win the good graces of the character represented by the tea-pet. This operation is repeated several times during the tea ceremony, as if one was sharing tea with this deity or ancestor.