Starbucks

With more than a century of craftsmanship behind the creation of each little glass, these are some of the most exclusive and expensive items in the Starbucks range.

Edo Kiriko is a renowned Japanese glass-making tradition with a history that can be traced all the way back to the Edo Period (1603-1868). The technique, which involves cutting tiny patterns into the surface of the glass, often incorporates the same traditional motifs as those found on Japanese kimono fabrics, and can be used to create unique glassware that sparkles as it moves in the light. These traditional production methods are now being used by the world’s largest coffee house chain to create an exclusive iced coffee drinking glass, and the attention to quality and detail is second to none, with a team of dedicated Japanese craftsmen involved in the project.

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Tokyo-based Sumida Edo Kiriko Museum is working in conjunction with Starbucks to produce the limited-edition glasses, working first by hand-blowing the glass in the factory, with craftsmen using years of experience and skill to produce a product with the correct thickness and weight, which is vital for the cutting process. Once the best glasses have been selected, they’re then taken to the workshop, where they’re hand cut by an artisan.

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The glasses created for Starbucks feature the coffee chain’s signature green colour, along with three traditional patterns: the circular “Shippo”, or “Seven Treasures and Stars”, an auspicious pattern that signifies unlimited spread of luck; the “Hakkaku Kagome”, or “Octagonal Basket Weave”, which features straight lines shaped like the mesh of a bamboo basket; and “Arare, or “Hail”, at the bottom of the glass.

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With high quality comes high price, and these 375-millilitre (12.7-fluid ounce) capacity glasses are some of the most expensive in the Starbucks range, retailing for 35,000 yen (US$349) each, plus tax. If you’d like to get your hands on one of the beautiful limited-edition items, they’re only available at four Starbucks locations in Tokyo’s Sumida Ward: Kinshicho Marui, Kinshicho Termina 2, and Tokyo Solamachi East 6F and Tokyo Solamachi West 1F at Tokyo Skytree.

Source, Images: Starbucks Japan