Fruit drinks containing a little pepper (6)
I believe the answer is:
apples
'fruit' is the definition.
(apple is a type of fruit)
'drinks containing a little pepper' is the wordplay.
'drinks' becomes 'ales' (ale is a kind of drink).
'containing' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'a little pepper' becomes 'pp' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'ales' going around 'pp' is 'APPLES'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for apples that I've seen before include "-- and pears" , "Crispy fruit" , "Russets, pippins etc" , "Loud sharp cry" , ""____, cherries, hops and women"" .)