Special tea is after standard sponge (8)
I believe the answer is:
parasite
'sponge' is the definition.
('parasite' can be a synonym of 'sponge')
'special tea is after standard' is the wordplay.
'special' is an anagram indicator.
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'standard' becomes 'par' (I've seen this before).
'tea'+'is'='teais'
'teais' anagrammed gives 'asite'.
'asite' put after 'par' is 'PARASITE'.
(Other definitions for parasite that I've seen before include "Self-interested hanger-on" , "sponge" , "One living off another" , "It depends on the host" , "Organism growing on or in another" .)