Been There – Hiroshima

Starbucks Been There – Hiroshima is a mug for a city in Japan’s Chūgoku region, which has a rich history that extends far beyond the tragic events of World War II. Founded in the late 16th century by the powerful warlord Mōri Terumoto, Hiroshima developed as a key economic and cultural hub in western Japan. The city thrived through the Edo period and into the modern era, becoming a center for industry and education. However, Hiroshima is most widely recognized internationally for the atomic bombing on August 6, 1945, which resulted in massive destruction and loss of life.… Read more

Discovery Series – Niagara Falls

Here’s the bigger version of the ornament that we’ve seen earlier. When compared to the mini mug, the design of the Discovery Series Niagara Falls has way more details. Let’s review them together.

But before we do that, I would like to mention an interesting fact about Niagara Falls. Did you know that this famous group of waterfalls is continuously evolving due to both natural and human influences? Erosion, a key natural process, gradually reshapes the falls as the powerful water flow wears away the underlying rock layers.… Read more

Been There – Hangzhou

Starbucks Been There Hangzhou is a mug for the capital of Zhejiang province in eastern China. It is a city steeped in history and cultural significance. Renowned for its stunning West Lake, Hangzhou has been a center of culture, politics, and economy since ancient times. It was famously described by the Venetian traveler Marco Polo as “the finest and most splendid city in the world.” During the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279), Hangzhou served as the imperial capital, fostering a golden age of art, literature, and commerce.… Read more

You Are Here – Napoli

Starbucks You Are Here Napoli is a mug for the city in southern Italy with a rich and diverse heritage. Founded by the Greeks in the 8th century BC as Neapolis, or “New City,” it became one of the most important cities in Magna Graecia. During the Roman era, Naples was a cultural hub, renowned for its contributions to art, philosophy, and science. The city endured a turbulent history, including periods of Byzantine, Norman, and Spanish rule, each leaving a distinct mark on its architecture and culture.… Read more

Discovery Series Ornament – Niagara Falls

The second of only two ornaments planned for Canada is now out. Discovery Series Ornament – Niagara Falls should be available on both Canadian and US sides around the famous group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge.

These three waterfalls are:

Horseshoe Falls, also known as the Canadian Falls, is the largest and most famous of the three. It spans the international border between Canada and the United States, with the majority of the falls located on the Canadian side.… Read more

Disneyland Hong Kong – World of Frozen

The exciting news is coming from Hong Kong Disneyland, as the brand-new Been There – World of Frozen mug has just been spotted in the park’s “Market House”. This mug looks very similar to the Arendelle mug that was released not so long ago, and I will write a separate post comparing these two mugs soon. Stay tuned!

As for the World of Frozen,  it is a magical themed land that transports visitors into the heart of Arendelle, the kingdom from Disney’s beloved Frozen franchise.… Read more

You Are Here – Kristiansand

It seems that European YAH mugs are still popping up here and there. Does it mean Starbucks is going to skip the Been There Series in this region and go straight to Discovery? That’s one of the possibilities, and only time will tell.

You Are Here Kristiansand is a mug for a charming Norwegian city that blends historical richness with modern vibrancy. Founded by King Christian IV in 1641, Kristiansand was established as a strategic fortification and trading post. The city’s layout, characterised by its grid pattern, reflects the Renaissance ideals of the time, aimed at efficiency and defence.… Read more

Discovery Series – Canada

I include a picture of the box together with the newly released Discovery Series Canada mug to emphasize one particularity of the Discovery mugs from Canada, namely the typo on the cover of the box. I am sure this will be fixed soon, so if you want to keep this piece of Starbucks memorabilia, I suggest you don’t wait for too long and get them rather sooner than later.

Compared to some other Discovery mugs, Discovery Series Canada has quite a few symbols and landmarks (I counted fifteen).… Read more

Discovery Series – Oregon

I’ve reviewed the smaller version of the Discovery Series – Oregon mug earlier, you can see that post here. In addition to Oregon’s rocky coast, duck, blackberries, mushrooms, and Bigfoot that we saw in the design of the ornament, these are the symbols and landmarks specific to the bigger mug:

– Although tulips are not native to Oregon, they can thrive in any region of the state with the proper care and planning. The tulip on the front of the mug is probably related to the annual Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival, held in Woodburn.… Read more

You Are Here – Perpignan

With the addition of this very nice looking Starbucks You Are Here Perpignan mug to my collection, I conclude the French mugs series for now. For now, because I heard rumors that there could be more, coming later this year. Stay tuned for updates!

Perpignan, the capital of the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France, boasts a rich and diverse history. Founded in the 10th century, it became the capital of the Kingdom of Majorca in the 13th and 14th centuries, which significantly shaped its architectural and cultural landscape.… Read more

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