How to use Squirting Tea Pets

While traditional tea pets do not perform any tricks, squirting tea pets require a different preparation process:

1. Gently place your tea pet in hot water and allow the air trapped inside to escape.
2. Bubbles will escape from the tea pet, making it easy to monitor the process.
3. Once the bubbling stops, remove the tea pet from the hot water and place it gently in cold water.
4. Allow the tea pet to soak in the cold water.
5. Place the tea pet on a tea tray and pour some hot tea or hot water over it.
6. The hot water will expand the clay, forcing the trapped water to escape through the only outlet. For example, as shown with the “Frog on Pumpkin,” the water will squirt from its mouth.

How to Use Traditional Tea Pets

1. Placement: Position the tea pet on the tea tray where it can receive water and tea during the ceremony.
2. Washing and Warming: Pour warm water over the tea pet at the start of the ceremony, symbolising cleansing and preparation.
3. Tea Pouring: Throughout the ceremony, pour leftover tea or rinse water over the tea pet. This keeps it hydrated, enhances its natural patina over time, and connects it to the tea session.
4. Symbolism: Many tea pets represent luck, prosperity, or other virtues. Interact with it as a gesture of good fortune or mindfulness during the tea ritual.

Using a tea pet adds an aesthetic and cultural element to the ceremony, fostering a sense of tradition and personal connection.

Shapes and Forms

Tea pets come in a variety of shapes and forms, crafted from materials such as clay, porcelain, plastic, or other creative mediums.