Handmade Yixing Zisha Golden Toad Tea Pets

Your Companion on the Tea Tray

A tea pet is a small clay figurine that serves as a decorative and spiritual companion for your Gongfu tea sessions. This particular pet is one of the most beloved and auspicious: the Golden Toad, or ‘Jin Chan’. Crafted from authentic Yixing Zisha clay, this charming creature is more than just an ornament; it’s a participant in your tea journey, evolving with you, one brew at a time.

The Legend of the Three-Legged Money Toad

The Golden Toad is not an ordinary amphibian. According to Chinese folklore, this mythical creature was the greedy wife of one of the Eight Immortals. As a punishment for her avarice, she was turned into a three-legged toad. The benevolent immortal Liu Hai eventually subdued her, and as an act of atonement, she now helps people by spitting out gold coins from her mouth. This is why the Jin Chan is almost always depicted with a coin in its mouth and sitting atop a pile of treasure, serving as a powerful symbol of wealth and prosperity.

Why Nurture a Yixing Tea Pet?

• It’s a Living Piece of Art: Yixing Zisha clay is porous. When you pour leftover tea over your Golden Toad, the clay slowly absorbs the tea’s essence. Over months and years, it will absorb the oils and minerals, developing a deep, rich color and a glossy patina. This nurturing process is known as “raising” (养) the pet.

• A Focus for Mindfulness: The simple act of pouring tea over your pet can be a calming, meditative ritual during your tea practice.

• A Symbol of Good Fortune: For many, the tea pet is a source of good luck. Nurturing the Money Toad is believed to attract wealth and good fortune to the household.

How to Use and Place Your Golden Toad

1. Placement: Place your Golden Toad on your tea tray (Cha Pan). According to Feng Shui principles, it should be positioned facing the entrance of your home during the day to attract wealth from the outside. In the evening, it should be turned to face inwards, symbolizing it bringing the fortune into your home. 

2. Nurturing (“Feeding”): Simply pour leftover tea from your infusions over its body. You can use a small brush to gently spread the tea evenly.

3. No Soap!: Never use soaps or chemical cleaners. The goal is for the clay to purely absorb the tea. Just rinse with warm water.