Beanstalk spread across hot region (3,7)

I believe the answer is:

the balkans

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'region' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both locations as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

'beanstalk spread across hot' is the wordplay.
'spread' indicates an anagram.
'across' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'hot' becomes 'h' (abbreviation eg on taps).
'beanstalk' anagrammed gives 'tebalkans'.
'tebalkans' going around 'h' is 'THE BALKANS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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