Relief Australia Red is yet another mug that was released quite some time ago but was missing from my list. Judging by the Christmas decorations featured in the design, this appears to be a Holiday Edition! This makes it the fourth version of the Relief Australia mug. Do you have them all?… Read more
The Discovery Series Bolivia mug introduces another South American country release with a design that moves from the Andes to the Amazon and combines traditional culture with some of Bolivia’s most famous landscapes and foods. The history of Bolivia stretches back to ancient Andean civilizations, including Tiwanaku, before the region became part of the Inca Empire and later Spanish colonial territory. Bolivia gained independence in 1825 and was named after Simón Bolívar. Today, the country is defined by the coexistence of indigenous traditions, colonial history, and an extraordinary variety of landscapes, ranging from the Andes and high-altitude salt flats to tropical lowlands.… Read more
The Discovery Series Hiroshima mug tells the story of a city with a long history and a powerful modern identity. Hiroshima was founded as a castle town in 1589, when Mori Terumoto began construction of Hiroshima Castle. The city later developed into an important regional center, but its history changed forever on August 6, 1945, when an atomic bomb destroyed much of Hiroshima. Reconstruction began almost immediately, and the city was formally reshaped as a peace memorial city under a special law enacted in 1949.… Read more
Here is an interesting release from Turkey. Instead of focusing on a city or region, this You Are Here The Land of Legends Antalya mug is dedicated to one of the country’s largest entertainment destinations. Located in Belek, Antalya Province, The Land of Legends opened in 2016 as a combination of a theme park, water park, hotel, shopping avenue, and entertainment complex. Its fantasy-themed architecture and huge collection of attractions make it a rather unusual subject for a You Are Here mug.… Read more
The Discovery Series Tokyo is a mug for one of the world’s most fascinating cities. Originally known as Edo, Tokyo developed from a small fishing village into the political center of Japan after Tokugawa Ieyasu established his shogunate there in 1603. The city was renamed Tokyo, meaning “Eastern Capital,” when Emperor Meiji moved the imperial court there from Kyoto in 1868. Today, Tokyo is a vast metropolis where ancient temples, traditional customs, cutting-edge technology, and an enormous urban population exist side by side.… Read more
The Starbucks Discovery Series Ornament Puerto Rico brings together several images that capture the island’s tropical landscapes, historic architecture, and strong connection to the sea. Puerto Rico’s culture developed from a mixture of Taíno, Spanish, African, and later Caribbean and American influences, with the island becoming a Spanish colony following Christopher Columbus’s arrival in 1493. Today, Puerto Rico is known for its distinctive culture, beautiful natural scenery, and historic cities.
– Puerto Rico surfing appears among the symbols on the ornament, reflecting the island’s long coastline and excellent surfing conditions.… Read more
The Starbucks You Are Here Olomouc mug introduces one of the Czech Republic’s most historic cities, with roots stretching back to the Great Moravian period. I would like to thank the blog reader for providing the photos of this mug.
Olomouc became an important political and religious center during the Middle Ages, and in 1063 it became the seat of a bishopric. The city prospered as a major center of Moravia, although its history also includes the Swedish occupation during the Thirty Years’ War, when Swedish troops held Olomouc from 1642 to 1650.… Read more
The Starbucks Discovery Series Ornament Santiago brings together several elements that capture the character of Chile’s capital, from its dramatic mountain setting to traditional food, native wildlife and popular culture. Santiago was founded by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia on February 12, 1541, in the Mapocho River valley. The city grew into the political and economic center of the Spanish colony of Chile and remained at the heart of the country after Chile declared independence in 1818. Today, Santiago is the country’s largest city, set against the Andes and surrounded by a landscape that is very much part of its identity.… Read more
The Starbucks Discovery Series São Paulo mug is dedicated to Brazil’s largest city and one of the country’s most important economic and cultural centres. São Paulo was founded on January 25, 1554, when Jesuit priests established a college on the Piratininga plateau. For much of its early history, it remained a relatively small settlement, but the coffee boom of the 19th century transformed the city. The wealth generated by coffee helped bring railways, immigrants and rapid urban development, turning São Paulo into a major industrial and commercial centre.… Read more
While I actually missed adding some other Relief releases when they first appeared in stores and had to catch up later, Relief München seems to be a fresh release. Thanks to a blog reader who gave me a heads-up about it.
It seems the only coloured element in the design is the pair of beer glasses. Beer has been an important part of Munich’s history for centuries, with brewing in the city dating back to the Middle Ages. In 1487, Munich introduced its own beer purity law, which later became part of the famous Bavarian Reinheitsgebot.… Read more
