Been There – Tokyo

It has been a while since the release of the Japanese mugs, and Starbucks Been There – Tokyo was one of them.

Tokyo, the vibrant capital of Japan, is a bustling metropolis renowned for its modernity, rich history, and cultural heritage. With a population exceeding 13 million people, it stands as one of the most populous cities globally. Originally known as Edo, Tokyo became the official capital in 1868 during the Meiji Restoration, marking a pivotal moment in Japanese history as the country transitioned towards modernization and opened up to the world.… Read more

Been There Ornament – Louisiana 2

Starbucks Been There Ornament – Louisiana 2 introduces subtle changes to the existing release. The easiest way to tell two versions apart is to look at the group of three musical notes next to the tiny Starbucks coffee cup. The new version has all of the notes to the right of the cup, while the old version had one to the left and two to the right.

Other changes include:
– an additional musical note on the back of the mug;
– one of the mosquitos is gone and the other one changed the place (so two versus three in total now);
– two sets of flowers are removed;

Additionally, I am only seeing the “made in China” version of the new ornament, it can be identified by the glossy string.… Read more

Discovery Series – Hawaii

The new collection expands to the Aloha State. Thanks to the reader of my blog, I am happy to share the photos of the Starbucks Discovery Series – Hawaii mug with you.

Hawaii bears a rich history dating back over a millennium. Polynesian voyagers first settled the islands around 300 AD, bringing with them their unique culture, language, and traditions. Captain James Cook’s arrival in 1778 marked the beginning of significant European contact, leading to the islands’ eventual annexation by the United States in 1898.… Read more

Been There – Aruba

Let’s move to South America for a second and review Starbucks Been There – Aruba mug.

Aruba, a Caribbean gem renowned for its pristine beaches and vibrant culture, boasts a rich history that spans centuries. Believed to have been inhabited as early as 1000 AD by the Caquetio indigenous people, Aruba later became a Spanish colony in the 16th century before falling under Dutch control in 1636. Its name is thought to derive from the Spanish phrase “oro hubo,” meaning “there was gold,” reflecting the island’s once thriving gold mining industry.… Read more

You Are Here – Rouen

Starbucks You Are Here – Rouen is a mug for a city nestled in the heart of Normandy (France) which boasts a rich tapestry of history woven through its cobblestone streets and towering cathedrals. Its name is believed to have originated from the Gaulish word “Ratumacos,” meaning “ford of the river,” owing to its strategic location on the Seine River. Renowned as the capital of the Duchy of Normandy in the Middle Ages, Rouen witnessed significant events such as the trial and execution of Joan of Arc in 1431, which left an indelible mark on its cultural identity.… Read more

Discovery Series – New York City

Similarly to the previous collection, the Big Apple gets its own mug and Starbucks Discovery Series – New York City joins the NY State on the store shelves.

The moniker “Big Apple” for New York City has a somewhat elusive origin, but it gained popularity in the 1920s and 1930s, primarily through its use in horse racing circles. It’s believed that John J. Fitz Gerald, a sports writer for the New York Morning Telegraph, popularized the term in his column, “Around the Big Apple,” where he referred to New York City as the “big apple” to denote the city’s prominence and allure.… Read more

Been There Ornament – Mississippi 2

As you probably remember, Starbucks released a revised version of the Mississippi mug recently. Now, the same update was done for the mini mug as well. When compared to the first versionBeen There Ornament – Mississippi 2 has the cotton branch removed and some other elements changing the size and the position in the design:

– The guitar moved from the left of the title closer to the handle. Designers used this musical instrument to emphasize Mississippi’s cultural and musical heritage, particularly through its association with the birth and development of the blues genre.… Read more

Been There – Cebu 2 – Summer Edition 2023

Starbucks Been There Cebu 2 Summer Edition 2023 is the third mug from last summer’s batch release. Similar to others it has the design of the regular mug outlined in black. Do you see how the Starbucks reusable cup is not red? This tells us that the mug is not a Christmas edition, but rather something else.

Cebu, the bustling province located in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines, is a vibrant tapestry of history and culture. It holds a significant place in Philippine history as the site of Ferdinand Magellan’s arrival in 1521, marking the beginning of Spanish colonization in the archipelago.… Read more

Discovery Series – North Carolina

The new collection is growing with the release of the Starbucks Discovery Series – North Carolina mug.

North Carolina, located in the southeastern region of the United States, is renowned for its diverse geography, spanning from the Appalachian Mountains to the Atlantic Coast. Its vibrant cities such as Charlotte, Raleigh, and Asheville offer a blend of urban sophistication and Southern charm. The state boasts a rich history, being one of the original 13 colonies and home to the Wright brothers’ first powered flight in Kitty Hawk in 1903.… Read more

Been There Ornament – Illinois 2

I was expecting the release of the Starbucks Been There Ornament Illinois 2 long time ago, since the bigger mug came out back in 2019. The updated version is finally here, and it seems that the only difference compared to the Illinois Ornament v1 is the dashes in the name of one of the State’s landmarks.

Discovered in 1739 by French explorer M. de Lery, “Cave-In-Rock” stands as an iconic point of interest in Illinois. Carved over eons by the relentless flow of water, this natural limestone cave embodies a tangible link to the region’s frontier past.… Read more

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