PLANO – We love practically everything about Cassis Exotic Drinks & Tea, a cheery, hip, nonalcoholic drink spot that opened recently in a Plano shopping center.

Manager and co-owner Calvin Lin serves amazing virgin cocktails and frozen beverages, as well as exotic coffee and tea drinks – all at reasonable prices. The drinks are more sophisticated than those from a smoothie joint, more exciting than offerings from coffee bars, and a safer choice than true cocktails. (You can drive home after sipping a couple of Cassis' mocktails.)

The ingredients set these drinks apart. Cassis makes the gelato for creamy frozen drinks, and it makes simple and lemon syrups from cane and brown sugars (no corn syrup, thank you). The bar even makes tapioca bubbles for bubble tea (you can add them to any drink for 50 cents). Mr. Lin says he imports fruit juices and flavored syrups from France because "they're higher quality." Based on a sampling of drinks from Cassis' 34-item menu, he's on to something.

REX C. CURRY/Special Contributor

Fun, unusual takes on cold drinks abound at Cassis in Plano.

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Frozen drinks run the gamut from tropical fruit to caramel flavors. Peanut Slush doesn't sound like much, but it's a delicious frozen concoction made with a creamy peanut gelato. The Cinderella is a slushy blend of kiwi and pomegranate juices.

On the specialty-drink side of the menu, we liked the Evil Princess (and not just for its name), a zesty green-apple and grapefruit juice cocktail, as well as the White Snow, a refreshing blend of mango syrup, pineapple juice, lemon juice and orange juice.

Cassis makes virgin versions of classic cocktails, too: The Blue Hawaii is made with a nonalcoholic blue Curaçao, and Mojitea is a minty, tea-based take on a mojito. Specialty drinks may be ordered in frozen form, too. Hot beverages include coffee drinks such as the Crème Brûlée or chai tea (the latter is also available cold).

Although Cassis has an inviting modern seating area and magazines for those who want to linger, most of the store's business is takeout. But if this place were plopped down in Dallas' West Village, we suspect it would be packed.

Word of Cassis is spreading. On a recent Wednesday, the bar ran out of the chewy tapioca bubbles. Prices for blended drinks range from $3.35 to $3.85. You also can order a cup of tea for $1.95, but with such an enticing menu of exotic drinks, why would you want to?

If you can't make it to Plano to check out Cassis, try the bar's recipe for White Snow.

Tina Danze is a Dallas freelance writer.

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Pour into one large glass and serve. Makes 1 generous serving.

Simple syrup: Boil 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Cool mixture completely. Store in refrigerator.

PER SERVING: Calories 115 Trace protein No cholesterol Sodium 67 mg Trace fiber Carbohydrates 30 g No fat

SOURCE: Cassis Exotic Drinks & Tea

Hours:

11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.

to 10 p.m. Friday and

Saturday, and noon to

8 p.m. Sunday