Crossword Genius

China's tea with pronounced difference (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mate

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'china's' is the definition.
(china plate is Cockney rhyming slang for mate)

'tea with pronounced difference' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
an anagram of 'tea' is 'ate' which is within the answer.
A single letter 'm' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for mate that I've seen before include "Pal, chum" , "Chess finale" , "Team (anag.)" , "Fellow member, partner" , "Better half" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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