Starbucks

Starbucks. 

I used to go to Starbucks all the time.  More so when I lived in Hawaii and basically because it was the main meeting place for me and my best friends.  To be fair in Hawaii there is practically a Starbucks (nestled next to a Jamba Juice) on almost every street corner.  I am exaggerating (slightly) but there are enough of them on the island that you have to be quite specific when determining which Starbucks you are meeting someone at so that you show up at the right place.  I had pretty much two drinks at Starbucks.  If it was cold I would get Hot Chocolate.  Forget tea...I can never get anyone in the USA to make a proper cup to enjoy it enough to warrant the $ of buying one. If it was hot out I really liked ordering either an iced green tea with strawberry puree and one splenda in replace of the sweetener or a tall iced black tea with no water (so it was strong) and two splenda.  It would be a very rare occasion that I ever ordered anything with coffee in it because after growing up in Italia, Starbucks expresso is pretty burnt and revolting.  Its not the 'real' stuff.  When I moved to England I was introduced to a new chain called Costa and if I need to order a hot drink when I am out, that is my first choice to go to.  The whip creme that they put on hot cocoa has marshmallows in it and it is divine.  But definitely trying to stick to mostly hot green tea with nothing added to it or a typical English tea, white.   

One of my friends from Hawaii, who now lives on the mainland, was asking about the regional mugs from Starbucks.
I found the England versions this morning at the Starbucks in our grocery store and took a photo.  (£6.75)
Kinda wish I had gotten an awesome mug from Hawaii now. :(