Discovery Series – Phuket

The Starbucks Discovery Series Phuket mug explores Thailand’s largest island, known for its beaches, maritime culture, historic old town, and distinctive Peranakan heritage. Phuket grew into an important trading and tin-mining center, attracting Chinese, Indian, European, and Muslim communities whose influence can still be seen in the island’s architecture and food. Today, Phuket combines a busy international tourism industry with traditions that developed over centuries around fishing, trade, and life by the Andaman Sea.

– Air travel is an important part of modern Phuket, with the island serving as one of Thailand’s busiest international destinations.… Read more

Discovery Series – Monterrey

The Starbucks Discovery Series Monterrey mug highlights the capital of Nuevo León, one of northern Mexico’s most important industrial and business centers. Monterrey was founded in 1596 and grew significantly during the 19th and 20th centuries as industry, steel production, and manufacturing transformed the city. Its location at the foot of the Sierra Madre Oriental gives Monterrey a particularly dramatic setting, with mountains rising immediately beyond the urban area. The design reflects that combination of modern city life, outdoor recreation, regional food, and some of Monterrey’s most recognizable natural landmarks.… Read more

Discovery Series Ornament – Taoyuan

The Discovery Series Ornament Taoyuan is an especially interesting release because Taoyuan did not receive its own mug or ornament during either the You Are Here or Been There series. The city was previously featured in the older Relief series, however, so this is not actually Taoyuan’s first appearance in the Starbucks collectible lineup. Instead, it marks the city’s return after being absent from the two major series that followed Relief.

Another detail only became apparent to me while looking at this ornament: the inside of the cup does not carry the Starbucks brand name.… Read more

Discovery Series – Kobe

The Starbucks Discovery Series Kobe mug focuses on the port city’s distinctive mix of maritime scenery, Western influence, music, food, and hillside neighborhoods. Kobe developed rapidly after its port opened to foreign trade in 1868, and the arrival of merchants and residents from overseas left a lasting mark on the city’s architecture and culture. That history is especially visible in areas such as Kitano, while the harbor, Mount Rokko, and the city’s strong food and music traditions continue to shape Kobe’s identity today.… Read more

Discovery Series Ornament – Costa Rica

The Starbucks Discovery Series Ornament Costa Rica highlights the extraordinary wildlife and landscapes of this small Central American country. Costa Rica became independent from Spain in 1821 and is known today for its commitment to protecting its natural environment. Despite covering only a small part of the world’s land surface, the country contains tropical rainforests, cloud forests, volcanoes, beaches, and an exceptional variety of wildlife, much of it protected within national parks and reserves.

– The Arenal Volcano is one of Costa Rica’s most recognizable natural landmarks.… Read more

Discovery Series – Santa Cruz de la Sierra

The Starbucks Discovery Series Santa Cruz de la Sierra mug takes us to Bolivia’s largest city and the center of the country’s tropical eastern lowlands. Santa Cruz de la Sierra was founded by Ñuflo de Chaves in 1561, although the settlement was later moved several times before becoming established at its present location. Over the centuries, the city developed very differently from Bolivia’s high-altitude Andean centers, with strong influences from the Indigenous cultures of the eastern lowlands. Today, Santa Cruz is one of Bolivia’s main economic centers while retaining a distinctive regional culture known as camba.… Read more

Discovery Series Ornament – Bolivia

The Starbucks Discovery Series Ornament Bolivia showcases some of the country’s best-known natural and cultural symbols in the smaller ornament format. Bolivia became an independent republic in 1825 and takes its name from Simón Bolívar. Its geography is remarkably varied, stretching from the high Andes and Altiplano to valleys, tropical lowlands, and the Amazon basin. This diversity is reflected especially well in the ornament’s combination of high-altitude scenery and tropical plants.

– The llama is one of the animals most closely associated with Bolivia and the Andes.… Read more

Discovery Series – Hokkaido

The Starbucks Discovery Series Hokkaido mug explores Japan’s northernmost main island, a region known for long snowy winters, mountains, wildlife, agriculture, and distinctive local traditions. Hokkaido was historically inhabited by the indigenous Ainu people and was known as Ezo before receiving its present name in 1869, during a period of rapid Japanese settlement and development. Today, its relatively cool climate and wide-open landscapes distinguish it from much of the rest of Japan, while winter sports, seafood, and spectacular natural scenery attract visitors throughout the year.… Read more

Discovery Series Ornament – Taiwan

I am lucky to have a friend who travels a lot and sends me these. It would be much harder to get them otherwise. Starbucks released six ornaments for the “Formosa,” and I have them all!

The Starbucks Discovery Series Ornament Taiwan features a compact selection of symbols highlighting the island’s landscapes, wildlife, agriculture, and outdoor activities. Taiwan’s history has been shaped by its Indigenous peoples as well as periods of Dutch, Spanish, Qing, Japanese, and Republic of China rule. The island is also remarkably mountainous, with its rugged interior rising sharply from the densely populated coastal plains.… Read more

Discovery Series – Philippines

The Starbucks Discovery Series Philippines mug explores the history, traditions, food, and landscapes of this Southeast Asian archipelago. Spanish colonial rule began in the 16th century, with Manila becoming the colonial capital in 1571. Following the Philippine Revolution, independence from Spain was proclaimed on June 12, 1898, although the islands subsequently came under American rule. The Philippines finally gained full sovereignty in 1946, and today its culture reflects centuries of indigenous traditions combined with Spanish, Asian, and American influences.

– The jeepney immediately stands out on the front of the mug.… Read more

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