Crossword Genius

Soft food and drink lifted with a mild spice (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

paprika

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'mild spice' is the definition.
'paprika' can be an answer for 'spice' (I've seen this in another clue). I am not sure about the 'mild' bit.

'soft food and drink lifted with a' is the wordplay.
'soft food' becomes 'pap' (I've seen this in another clue).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'drink' becomes 'kir' (type of white wine).
'lifted' says the letters should be written in reverse (going up in down clue).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'kir' reversed gives 'rik'.
'pap'+'rik'+'a'='PAPRIKA'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for paprika that I've seen before include "Hungarian spice" , "Sweet red pepper" , "Red pepper powder used as a seasoning" , "strong-tasting spice" , "Deep red spice" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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