Cryptic crossword clue
Spice assessed and softened by soaking 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word MACERATED

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "softened by soaking" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case softened by soaking = macerated.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does MACERATED mean?

MACERATED verb
  1. To soften (something) or separate it into pieces by soaking it in a heated or unheated liquid.
  2. To make lean; to cause to waste away.
  3. To subdue the appetite by poor or scanty diet; to mortify.
  4. To mortify the flesh in general.

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