Serves up most of the light meal, certainly including tea for the old Italians (9)
I believe the answer is:
etruscans
'old italians' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
I can't explain the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for etruscans that I've seen before include "Ancient Italians" , "Old Italians" , "old people in Italy" .)