Crossword Genius

Beginning to drink a tea in Boris's country cottage? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dacha

'boris's country cottage?' is the definition.
(Russian residence - Boris is a Russian name)

'beginning to drink a tea' is the wordplay.
'beginning to' indicates taking the first letters.
'tea' becomes 'cha' (cha is a type of tea).
The first letter of 'drink' is 'd'.
'd'+'a'+'cha'='DACHA'

'in' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for dacha that I've seen before include "Vladimir's cottage" , "Russian villa" , "Russian's second home in the country" , "Russian dwelling" , "Russian second home" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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