Very kind scholar to peel fruit (8)
I believe the answer is:
tamarind
'fruit' is the definition.
(I know that tamarind is a type of edible fruit)
'very kind scholar to peel' is the wordplay.
'very kind scholar' becomes 'tama' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'to peel' becomes 'rind' (I've seen this before).
'tama'+'rind'='TAMARIND'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tamarind that I've seen before include "evergreen" , "Tree providing Asian flavouring" , "exotic fruit" , "Seed pod pulp eaten fresh or cooked with rice and fish or preserved in curries and chutneys" , "Indian tree with long brown seed pods" .)