Romantic introductions in trees with tea and dried fruits (5,5)

I believe the answer is:

first dates

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'romantic introductions' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot tell whether it can be defined by this definition.

'trees with tea and dried fruits' is the wordplay.
'trees with' becomes 'firs' (fir is a kind of tree. I am not sure about the 'with' bit.).
'tea' becomes 't' (I've seen this in other clues).
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'dried fruits' becomes 'dates' (I've seen this in another clue).
'firs'+'t'+'dates'='FIRST DATES'

'in' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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