Inferior tea, each put out, ready to serve? (6)

I believe the answer is:

tinpot

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'inferior tea each put' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'ready to serve?' is the wordplay.
'ready' becomes 'tin' (both are slang terms for money).
'to serve?' becomes 'pot' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'tin'+'pot'='TINPOT'

'out' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tinpot that I've seen before include "Paltry" , "Petty (dictator etc)" , "Ineffective" , "Worthless" , "Pathetic" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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