Bring a distinctive piece of Chinese mythology to your tea ritual with this colour-changing hou tea pet. The mythical beast is curled protectively around a rounded auspicious pearl, creating a compact and characterful design for a Gongfu tea tray.

Black at room temperature, the heat-sensitive figurine reveals one of two colours when hot water is poured over it:

• Teal

• Gold

The hou (犼), also known as the Golden Hou, is a powerful mythical creature traditionally depicted as Guanyin’s mount in Chinese Buddhist art. The rounded object is best described as an auspicious pearl, rather than a literal “dragon ball”.

Known in Chinese as a chachong (茶宠), this figurine can be placed on a Chinese tea tray and gently rinsed with hot water or tea during brewing. As it cools, it gradually returns to black. It also makes an unusual desk figurine, shelf ornament or gift for tea lovers and collectors of Chinese mythical creatures.

• Changes from black to teal or gold with hot water

• Two colour options available

• Hou curled around an auspicious pearl

• Inspired by Guanyin’s mythical mount

• Suitable for Gongfu tea trays and Chinese tea brewing

• Can also be displayed as a desk or shelf figurine

• Size: 7.5 cm long × 7 cm wide × 3.5 cm high