Crossword Genius

Do such nuts taste like beet, perhaps, to an apprentice? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

betel

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'do such nuts taste' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how one could define the other.

'beet perhaps to an apprentice?' is the wordplay.
'perhaps' is an anagram indicator.
'to an apprentice?' becomes 'L' (as in a learner driver with L-plates on their car).
'beet' with letters rearranged gives 'bete'.
'bete'+'l'='BETEL'

'like' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for betel that I've seen before include "Dried leaf of a plant chewed in Asia as a mild stimulant" , "climbing plant" , "Asian tree, whose nuts and leaves are chewed as a narcotic" , "Asian feather palm" , "leaves to chew" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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