Memoirs of Beijing

Winter weather is finally out and Spring was cut short.  Summer is now in the wind but it’s still relatively cool.  If you’re planning to visit Beijing, do it now as weather in July and August is unbearable.  In any case, the summer theme of Starbucks is “Black is Chill This Summer”

Promotions

From April 27 to June 27, every purchase of the Black is Chill merchandise or food product will entitle you a sticker.  Collect 12 stickers to form a picture of the new summer drink and get a free Starbucks summer cloth bag.  The stickers they will give you may be the same as your previous one so better befriend your local barista and they might give you the missing sticker you still need. 

Collect 6 stickers and they will give you one free Black Sesame Green Tea Frappuccino Blended Cream drink. 

Food and Beverages

The new drink this summer is the Black Sesame Green Tea Frappuccino Blended Cream.  I used one of my free drink coupon and the green tea is good but the black sesame was mashed to make it imitate sand.  It tasted weird and yucky.  I hope they discontinue it soon as even my Chinese colleagues doesn’t like the taste.

For pastries, they have seven new offerings, black bean muffin (RMB 13), black sesame croissant (RMB 12), Cuttlefish Cheese Bread (RMB 14), Black Sesame Green Tea Roll (RMB 14), Black Bean Kiwi Tart (RMB 18), Blackberry Apple Pie (RMB 22), Sesame Surprise Cheesecake (RMB 22).  I never was a fan of Starbucks pastries and putting black sesame seeds everywhere will turn me off further.

 

Merchandise

It seems like Starbucks chose the two extremes to color their merchandise this summer.  For the dark colors, they opted for black and dark red.  For the light colors, they went for white, pale orange, pale green and pale blue.  Looking at the merchandise doesn’t appeal to the customers as they lack vibrancy that will make you want to touch it and have it.

‘Black’ Series 

• A. 12 oz cup is RMB 75
• B and C.  3 oz demitasse cups are RMB 50 each
• D.  12 oz Tumblers are RMB 100 each

 

 

 

 

‘Red’ Series

• Left.  Diana red tumbler – RMB 160
• Right.  16 oz tumbler with straw – RMB 95

 

 

 

 

‘Tumblers’ Series

• Left.  12 ozRed fish tumbler – RMB 85
• Middle.  12 oz Pale blue flower tumbler – RMB 85
• Right.  8 oz Bird tumbler – RMB 75

 

 

 

 

‘Plain Starbucks’ Series

• Colors:  Green or Orange
• Size:  12 oz.
• Cost:  RMB 75

 

‘Pale’ Series

• Above left.  8 oz mugs in green or blue color – RMB 70
• Above middle.    14 oz mugs in blue or brown color – RMB 80
• Above left.  12 oz mug – RMB 75

That’s what’s new and will be available while stocks last till late June.  To continue and help the environment, bring your own Starbucks mugs or tumblers when you purchase your favorite beverage and get RMB 2.00 off your bill.