price of tea in China

Meanings

1. Something that is relevant or important, usually used to emphasize that another, compared thing is irrelevant, unimportant, or non sequitur, or that someone unaware of it is ignorant, etc.
2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see price, tea, China.

Etymology

The price of tea in China was an important topic in England during and around the 19th century. It was often mentioned in the British House of Commons.