Cream of the Carmelites (5)

I believe the answer is:

elite

'cream' is the definition.
(as in the cream of the crop)

'of the carmelites' is the wordplay.
'of' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'ELITE' is hidden in the letters of 'carmelites'.

(Other definitions for elite that I've seen before include "Exclusive group" , "Identified as the best" , "Privileged or posh group" , "twelve pitch in the office" , "Creme de la creme" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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