This probably happened in the American south. I could see how an accent or uneducated person, or a mix of both could lead to misinterpretation.
(I am originally from Upstate NY and live in the south and the words “line”, “lying”, and “lion” are all the same words. Same with “boil” and “bowl”, “pin” and “pen”.)
How is the Boneappletea in your mind?