State of cup of tea - almost ready, so it's said (6)

I believe the answer is:

brunei

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'state' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for brunei that I've seen before include "State on Borneo" , "Sultanate of southeast Asia" , "E. Indies sultanate" , "Its sultan is famously very wealthy" , "Rich sultanate in the South China Sea" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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