This clue appeared in the NYT Crossword on Thursday, January 15, 2026 (9 Down). The answer is hidden below until you want it. Thursday puzzles often have a trick, such as a rebus (several letters in one square) or answers that bend the rules.
How to read this clue
The question mark warns of wordplay. Expect a pun or a second meaning rather than a straight definition.
Answer length: 3 squares
First letter
T _ _
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About the answer
TEA as a word: (uncountable) The tea plant (Camellia sinensis); (countable) a variety of this plant; (uncountable) The dried leaves or buds of the tea plant; (countable) a variety of such leaves.
TEA has been an answer 10 times in the NYT Crossword and Mini since November 12, 2025.
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