Discovery Series Ornament – Chiapas

The Starbucks Discovery Series Ornament Chiapas focuses on some of the traditions, wildlife, plants, and everyday culture associated with Mexico’s southernmost state. Chiapas is known for its Indigenous heritage, tropical forests, coffee production, colorful textiles, and extraordinary biodiversity. The state is home to large Maya and other Indigenous communities, and many traditional crafts and agricultural practices remain an important part of daily life.

One interesting detail I noticed with the Mexican ornaments is the manufacturing information. All of them seem to have a small transparent sticker saying “Made in China”, while the bottom of the ornament and the box say “Made in Malaysia”.… Read more

Discovery Series Ornament – Kaohsiung

The Starbucks Discovery Series Ornament Kaohsiung focuses on a few symbols closely connected with this major port city in southern Taiwan. Kaohsiung developed from a small harbor settlement into one of Taiwan’s largest cities and an important center for shipping, industry, and trade. In recent decades, the waterfront has been transformed with new public spaces, cultural attractions, light rail, and pedestrian areas, while the wider municipality also includes coastal districts, agricultural towns, and mountain landscapes.

– The large bunch of Cishan bananas refers to one of Kaohsiung’s best-known agricultural specialties.… Read more

Discovery Series Ornament – México

The Starbucks Discovery Series Ornament Mexico focuses on a few traditions and foods that are instantly associated with the country. Mexico’s history stretches from ancient civilizations such as the Maya and Mexica to more than three centuries of Spanish colonial rule and independence in the early 19th century. Today, its identity is shaped by an enormous variety of regional cultures, foods, festivals, and traditions, several of which appear in this compact ornament design.

– The bright orange cempasúchil, or Mexican marigold, is closely connected with Día de Muertos.… Read more

You Are Here Ornament – Tokyo

People who have followed my blog from the very beginning might remember this post from 2019, when I was excited to review what appeared to be a new mug from Japan, only to realize that it was an unreleased prototype. It was especially disappointing because Japan never received any city-specific You Are Here releases. The only YAH items released there were the mini set of five country mugs and ornaments: one regular version and four seasonal editions, one for each time of the year.… Read more

Discovery Series Ornament – Taichung

The Starbucks Discovery Series Ornament Taichung highlights a few of the city’s best-known natural, cultural, and recreational features. Taichung developed from a regional settlement into one of Taiwan’s largest urban centers, while still retaining easy access to mountains, wetlands, flower farms, and agricultural areas. Its location in central Taiwan gives the city a particularly varied landscape, stretching from the coast in the west to higher elevations farther inland.

– The large cup of bubble tea is a fitting choice for Taichung, which is widely associated with the drink’s origins.… Read more

Discovery Series Ornament – Santa Cruz de la Sierra

The Starbucks Discovery Series Ornament Santa Cruz de la Sierra offers a smaller selection of symbols from Bolivia’s largest city and the surrounding eastern lowlands. Santa Cruz de la Sierra was founded by Ñuflo de Chaves in 1561 and was moved more than once before becoming established at its present location. Over time, it developed into the economic center of eastern Bolivia, with a culture and landscape quite different from the country’s high-altitude Andean cities.

– The sloth is one of the most distinctive animals found in Bolivia’s tropical lowlands.… 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 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 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 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

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