Crossword Genius

Tea in angel's cup different — though in essence it's the same (4,2,6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

plus ca change

'in essence it's the same' is the definition.
(French phrase meaning roughly 'nothing changes')

'tea in angel's cup different' is the wordplay.
'tea' becomes 'cha' (cha is a type of tea).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'different' indicates anagramming the letters.
'angels'+'cup'='angelscup'
'angelscup' with letters rearranged gives 'pluscange'.
'cha' going into 'pluscange' is 'PLUS CA CHANGE'.

'though' is the link.

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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