
From playfully cute to quietly elegant, these beautiful bovines are here to keep you company on your coffee break.
With Japan changing over to the new Chinese zodiac animal on January 1, we checked out Japanese Starbucks branches’ festive Year of the Ox drinkware before 2020 ended. But with the Lunar New Year coming up in early February, let’s take a look at some of the cool stuff the coffeehouse’s branches elsewhere in Asia have on offer to mark the occasion.
As we start off in China, we should note that the linguistic distinction between “ox” and “cow” isn’t quite as stark in many Asian languages as it is in English. Because of that, Starbucks’ Lunar New Year collections freely jump back and forth between orthodox oxen and cutesy cows, depending on the designers’ sensibilities. Some of the pieces for China also feature a fish, a traditional sign of prosperity, or the Starbucks mascot bear dressed up for a lion dance.
▼ There’s even a gold-colored ox coin bank.
Hong Kong has a separate lineup, with a focus on stylish understatement, but still with a very playful touch with a cow glass with extended ears.
Starbucks Taiwan, meanwhile, is all about the mugs.
And last, a lot of Thailand’s collection overlaps with pieces available elsewhere, but it’s the only area out of the four to be offering the charcoal-color Year of the Ox tumblers and bottles.
▼ Thailand, Taiwan, and China are also all offering this adorable ox mug, which is available in Japan too.
While Starbucks China’s collection doesn’t appear to be available for online purchases, you can find the items from Starbucks Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Thailand on their online stores here, here, and here.
Sources: Starbucks China, Starbucks Hong Kong, Starbucks Taiwan, Starbucks Thailand
Top image: Starbucks Taiwan
Insert images: Starbucks China, Starbucks Hong Kong, Starbucks Taiwan, Starbucks Thailand
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!







Chinese zodiac Evangelion characters are here to wish you a happy, chibi Year of the Ox【Pics】
We sigh and swoon over the adorable Year of the Tiger Starbucks goods sold in the rest of Asia
Drink like an ox, eat like a horse! Five Japanese idiomatic phrases to celebrate Year of the Ox
Starbucks Korea releases adorable lineup of goods for the Year of the Rooster
Starbucks’ Japanese New Year’s/Chinese zodiac drinkware line is full of fun and fortune【Pics】
Gundam teams up with 300-year-old daruma maker for wood-carved anime mecha figures[Photos]
Tokyo’s new extra-expensive ramen restaurant is dividing opinions, so we tried a bowl
Used chopsticks upgraded from “waste” to “valuable material” by Kawasaki City thanks to ChopValue
Japan’s instant ramen snack theme park features an athletic course even adults can enjoy
Pizza Hut Japan’s drinkable curry pizza is here – Is it all we dreamed it would be?[Taste test]
Japanese temple burns to the ground, fire burning inside for 1,200 years unharmed
Bizarre Japanese vending machine sells “Peace and Equality” and “Angels and Demons”
Starbucks Japan hoping fans will go bananas for its new mottainai banana affogato Frappuccino
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Krispy Kreme Japan is bringing two special donuts to the most-forgotten big city in the country
Japan has a new cute and clever sunblock for cat lovers
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
This Tokyo Station sweets sensation sells out daily, but we finally got our hands on it
Japan’s izakaya pubs closing at record pace, failing to attract foreign tourists
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
The story of our reporter P.K. Sanjun’s heart attack
The average age of Japan’s hikikomori shut-ins is getting older, survey shows
Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
Tifa’s Final Fantasy VII bar is going to pop up in real-world Tokyo
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Starbucks Korea’s Year of the Dog puppy cupcakes look adorable, get stabbed in the face【Videos】
Starbucks Hong Kong adds new bunny mugs and cups to its mid-autumn drinkware range
Starbucks Japan releases cute new zodiac goods for Year of the Rabbit