Crossword Genius

Tea for each individual companion (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

chaperone

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

'tea for each individual' is the wordplay.
'tea' becomes 'cha' (cha is a type of tea).
'for each' becomes 'per' (I've seen this before).
'individual' becomes 'one' (an individual is one person).
'cha'+'per'+'one'='CHAPERONE'

(Other definitions for chaperone that I've seen before include "Guardian" , "my charges are small" , "child-minder?" , "Young lady's protector" , "Companion" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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