Been There – Bolivia

Been There – Bolivia was released quite a while ago, and I am finally able to add this to my collection. I would like to remind you that this is not the first mug from this country. Interestingly enough, a city mug for Santa Cruz de la Sierra was released two years prior for the largest city in Bolivia.

Bolivia has a rich and complex history that stretches back thousands of years, beginning with ancient civilizations such as the Tiwanaku, who built a powerful culture near Lake Titicaca long before the rise of the Inca Empire.… Read more

You Are Here – Iceland

Starbucks has opened its first store in Iceland, located inside the Alda Hotel on Reykjavík’s main shopping street, Laugavegur. This marks the brand’s official entry into the Icelandic market, bringing its signature coffee experience to both locals and tourists. There is also the exclusive mug released alongside the store launch, You Are Here — Iceland. I can’t wait to add this beauty to my collection!

The unique design of the new mug captures the spirit of Iceland:

Iceland is famously home to some of the most stunning waterfalls in the world.… Read more

You Are Here Ornament – Italia

Along with an updated mug for the capital city, Starbucks has also released a new version of the country ornament! A brand-new design was spotted in stores, and it appears to be replacing the previous one. You Are Here Ornament – Italia uses the name Italians actually use for their country. Interestingly, I haven’t seen the larger mug yet, but I’m sure it’s coming soon.

The name “Italia” has ancient roots, tracing back to the Greeks, who referred to a portion of Southern Italy as “Italói,” possibly derived from a word meaning “calf” or “young bull.” This symbol, often associated with fertility and strength, may reflect the region’s pastoral richness.… Read more

You Are Here – Kazakhstan

Interestingly, Kazakhstan was the only country for which Starbucks released an ornament but not a full-size mug. This situation was recently fixed by this brand-new release: the You Are Here – Kazakhstan mug.

Here is what we see in the design of this mug:

Tea drinking is a central part of Kazakhstani culture, often serving as a symbol of hospitality and community. It’s common for Kazakhs to share a pot of tea, typically green or black, with friends and visitors, accompanied by traditional sweets and snacks.… Read more

Been There – Japan Winter

Been There – Japan Winter is the fourth special edition Japan mug. As you remember, it’s the only country that gets a mug per season on top of the regular one.

Japan transforms into a magical winter landscape during the cold months, offering a unique blend of traditional customs and exciting seasonal activities that captivate both locals and visitors. From snow festivals to hot springs and winter cuisine, the season brings out some of the most enchanting aspects of Japanese culture.… Read more

Been There – Japan Autumn

Starbucks Been There Japan Autumn follows three other country mugs for Nippon, namely: regular, Spring, and Summer editions.

The design of the mug showcases fall colors in all their beauty. Interestingly enough, the Japanese have a special word for the tradition of autumn leaf viewing. Momiji-gari is the centuries-old practice of traveling to scenic areas to view the changing autumn leaves, particularly those of maple trees. The term literally translates to “maple hunting” or “maple viewing,” though it encompasses the appreciation of all autumn foliage.… Read more

Been There – Japan Summer

The design of the Been There Japan Summer mug is dedicated to the summer season, obviously. Let me remind you that Japanese mugs are unique in the sense that apart from the regular mug, Starbucks releases four more mugs for each season. We’ve reviewed Japan Spring recently and noticed that while the layout stays the same, certain elements of the design were adapted to reflect the different seasons of the year. There is one more interesting detail about this particular release: while all other seasons, Spring, Autumn, and Winter, were all released in 2022, the Summer Edition was released in 2023, thus leaving collectors hanging for a while.… Read more

Been There Ornament – China

Been There Ornament China is hands down the best-looking ornament from this series. Similarly to the bigger mug, its design uses bold red and gold colors. As a reminder, all Been There Ornaments from Mainland China come in pairs: one country ornament and one city ornament. With that being said, if you decide to collect all the Mainland China ornaments, you are going to end up with multiples of China (country) ones.

Check this post out, where I go into more detail on different boxes for YAH and BeenThere ornaments.… Read more

Been There Ornament – Australia 2

Similar to the bigger v2 mug, this new revised Been There Ornament – Australia v2 is dedicated to surfing and anything related. Also, I couldn’t help but notice that the ornament is a total copy of the bigger mug, with the exception of the two-piece swimsuit missing from the design of the ornament. That is unusual for the Been There Series, where ornaments have fewer elements than full-size mugs.

Surfing culture in Australia is deeply ingrained in the nation’s coastal lifestyle, with its world-famous beaches and surf spots drawing surfers from around the globe.… Read more

Been There Ornament – Australia

Starbucks Been There Ornament Australia is interesting in a way that it comes in a set with other Australian ornaments. You can see it in the picture below, together with the Australia v2 ornament. Yes, it took me so long to get it that Starbucks released a new version of the ornament! I have to admit, I am not a big fan of this type of packaging because, in order to get all the Australian cities, you have to buy multiple country ornaments.… Read more

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