Tea Pet: A Purple Clay Ceramic Decoration for Your Tea Table

It’s a functional yet seemingly superfluous object—an artful paradox.

A tea pet is a distinctive accessory in Eastern tea culture.This particular piece is crafted in the shape of a vivid purple eggplant.In China, there’s a saying: “Purple air comes from the east,” which symbolizes auspiciousness and good fortune.Interestingly, China lies in the eastern part of the world, so when this purple decoration travels from the East to your hands, it also carries with it a gesture of goodwill and blessing.

Practical Use:

Made from Yixing purple clay and fired at high temperatures, this tea pet naturally absorbs moisture.During tea brewing, the first step is often to rinse the tea leaves—the discarded liquid can be poured over the tea pet.Over time, it absorbs the aroma of the tea, a process referred to as “nurturing the tea pet.” Gradually, it will develop its own subtle tea fragrance.

You may simply display it as a desktop ornament, or treat it as a “living” part of your tea ritual. Whichever way you choose, it adds a touch of ambiance and a sense of mystery to your tea-making ceremony.

It’s a functional yet seemingly superfluous object—an artful paradox.