Not to be outdone, “yeast pets” have also taken over Chinese social media sites, with many users giving their jars affectionate names like “Yeast Baby” or “Little Bub” and sharing pictures and tips for fermenting and raising yeast mixtures of flour and water.
Many have compared the process to raising virtual pets like Tamagotchi toys, which were hugely popular among children and teenagers during the early 2000s.
“You don’t need to walk it or clean up after it but it’s alive,” said Xiao Xiao, a home baker from Shenzhen who has been actively documenting her journey raising a sourdough starter on Xiaohongshu.
“It grows, breathes and responds to care,” she said.
“When I open the lid and see bubbles forming, it makes me strangely happy.”
Another baker by the user handle Peach, told CNA that she finds joy in the process of fermenting yeast – whether she’s baking or just for fun. “Every time I open the container lid, I see the live yeast moving, and it’s really exciting,” she said.
Just like taking care of real pets, keeping yeast alive requires commitment like feeding it daily with flour and water, she added.
She has been raising her own “yeast baby” for a few months and shared that the process was not easy especially during winter months because of colder temperatures.
“Of course (it brings emotional value), just like raising an animal,” she said.
“When it’s going well, it makes you happy. You have to feed it every day, right? It also takes a certain sense of responsibility. Even kids can enjoy playing with it.”
