Crossword Genius

Tea bags at home for friend (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

china

'for friend' is the definition.
(cockney rhyming slang, mate is china plate)

'tea bags at home' is the wordplay.
'tea' becomes 'cha' (cha is a type of tea).
'bags' is an insertion indicator (bag can mean secures or steals).
'at home' becomes 'in' ('I'm in' can mean 'I'm at home').
'cha' placed around 'in' is 'CHINA'.

(Other definitions for china that I've seen before include "friend or companion" , "Delicate porcelain from Cathay?" , "Ceramics; friend" , "Country; friend (slang)" , "Large country; mate" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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