"China Tea" is a piano solo instrumental which was written and recorded by the English pianist Russ Conway.
It became a hit for Conway in 1959, with his recording reaching the UK Singles Chart top 10.
[5] In his book, When I Was a Nipper, Alan Titchmarsh recalls "China Tea" being the first record he bought with his own money.
The following month, Joe Julian's piano version on the Woolworths budget label Embassy was issued, and October saw a quickstep version by Conway's Columbia labelmate Victor Silvester and his Ballroom Orchestra.
[9] A re-recording by Conway of "China Tea" was included on his album The Great Piano Hits, released by Pye's Golden Hour label in June 1973.
[10] Laurie Holloway included "China Tea" in his 1977 LP 25 Golden Piano Greats and Phil Kelsall recorded a version on the Wurlitzer Organ at the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool in 1998.