Super Starbucks Fan: My 2019 with Starbucks (Part 2)

Starbucks' cherry blossom season and Christmas are the two liveliest seasons of the year. Every time I see the promotional photos, I get the urge to rush to the nearest store to try them out.

The 'Snowy Black Forest Mocha,' one of the three signature drinks of the Christmas season, as the name suggests, infuses the flavor of Black Forest cake into a mocha. In terms of appearance, it was quite poorly made—clearly mass-produced without much care, which was rather disappointing for a photo enthusiast like me. Taste-wise, it only had a faint, special chocolate flavor and wasn't as good as I'd imagined. When ordering, I wanted four pumps of syrup, but the barista insisted it was already very sweet and used the standard three pumps. In the end, it was just a little less sweet than I'd have liked.

The 'Christmas Tree Matcha Cheese Lava Cake' totally melted my girly heart when I saw the promo photos. The reality was a delightful surprise: after cutting into it, the lava center oozed out. The blend of matcha, nuts, and cheese was something I really loved.

The 'Reindeer Emoji Hazelnut Mousse Cake' got its emoji name because each reindeer has different eyes. It looked adorable, and the hazelnut mousse was rich and flavorful—absolutely loved it.

As a super Starbucks fan, I continued to try the Christmas cakes and drinks.

The 'Irish Cream Walnut Mille Crepe' is the priciest cake in Starbucks history, at least the most expensive in the past five years, priced at 39 yuan and well worth it. I'm already fond of the taste of Irish coffee—bittersweet, rich, and aromatic. This mille crepe had a subtle hint of sweet liqueur, with walnuts as an accent, blending into the cake's soft sweetness. It was so delicious I was amazed, and I couldn't stop eating it. Highly recommended!

The 'Christmas Gingerbread Latte' was a special drink this holiday season. It looked quite pretty, with a dusting of powder on the whipped cream that had a ginger flavor. Overall, it had a gentle hint of ginger and buttery biscuit taste, even better than I expected.

The 'Toffee Nut Latte'—every year, the Christmas season brings new items, but one star always remains. The Toffee Nut Latte, always in the spotlight, marks the beginning of the holiday season. And this year, it celebrated its 18th anniversary.

On my trip to Chengdu, the Starbucks (Jinli branch) had an antique charm and blended perfectly with the architectural style of Jinli. Its wooden doors and windows featured exquisite carvings, and bright red lanterns hung outside. Although it had two floors, the space wasn't very large, especially since it's located within a scenic area. It was packed when I visited; I had to wait a while for a seat and even share a table with other guests.

The 'Snowy Black Forest Mocha' for Christmas 2019 was made much more beautifully than at the Starbucks in Shenyang.

The 'Hot Chocolate' with half sweetness was perfect.

Checking in at one of China's top 10 most beautiful Starbucks | Number 4

The Starbucks at Chengdu's Kuanzhai Alley. This store is one of the most successful local adaptations of a Starbucks in China, perfectly replicating Sichuan-style architecture, complete with panda-themed elements. The interior is very stylish, with a distinctive chandelier hanging from the third floor. The staircase is also beautiful, though climbing to the third floor can be quite tiring.

Starbucks already allows customers to request latte art. The barista told me I was the first customer to ask for latte art, which surprised me! She also mentioned that the staff there weren't very skilled at latte art and offered to remake it if I wasn't satisfied. I'm grateful they eventually met my request. I believe you guys can do latte art now, right? It's a fundamental skill for a barista, after all!

I swapped the milk in my 'Matcha Latte' for skim milk. Compared to latte art made by baristas in other cities, it was slightly less impressive, but it was made with sincerity.

Checking in at one of China's top 10 most beautiful Starbucks | Number 5

Another Starbucks I specifically came to visit. There are two Starbucks in Chengdu's Taikoo Li, and this is Taikoo Li Store 1, which made it onto the list of China's top 10 most beautiful Starbucks.

This is a Reserve store. I waited half an hour to get a panoramic photo, but there were still people around. The place was bustling with tourists, many of them coming specifically to take photos and check in! It has two floors, and you can also enter via the corridor on the second floor.

As the sun set, sunlight streamed through the all-glass facade into the store. The window seats were the perfect photo spot. Holding a cup of coffee, watching the golden sunset, and seeing the surrounding high-end luxury boutiques light up—this was the epitome of Chengdu's fashion scene.

Whenever I travel to a city, if there's a Starbucks, I feel very at ease despite my many dietary restrictions.

This store is in the Fuli Building, with hardly any other food outlets nearby. The moment I spotted the Starbucks, I felt genuinely excited. Outside, there were many ginkgo trees, with golden leaves carpeting the ground—a truly picturesque sight. The decor was simple yet stylish, with many paintings on the walls that gave off an abstract art vibe. The long staircase was very beautiful. The barista had a sweet smile and provided excellent service.

The 'Hearty Tuna & Veggie Big Mouth Sandwich' — since I can't eat spicy food, I had been suffering from bloating and stomach pain in Chengdu. This sandwich truly soothed my stomach. It was packed with ingredients: nutritious and tasty tuna, sweet bell peppers, a variety of tender greens, and it was quite large—hence the name 'Big Mouth.' Most importantly, it was incredibly delicious. During my days in Sichuan, I ate it every day.

The 'Hot Chocolate' also helped soothe my stomach. On days without coffee, of course, I had to have hot chocolate!

Location: Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street, Chongqing. This Starbucks near Jiefangbei had a punk-inspired architectural style, with high ceilings and a unique decor.

Starbucks Reserve (Yuzhong Global Financial Center store) is on the B1 level of the Yuzhong Global Financial Center. Its open-plan layout is stylish and grand.

The 'Tangerine Tango,' a warm and comforting drink, is a health-conscious beverage that also looks great.

The 'Hearty Tuna & Veggie Big Mouth Sandwich' — I had to visit two stores to get one, and I originally wanted to buy two; it's truly a hot item! During my Sichuan trip, this sandwich was almost my exclusive choice for meals at Starbucks. It's so large that one is enough for a full meal. With tuna paired with an abundance of fresh veggies, it's a satisfying mix of ingredients. It's mainly a low-fat, light meal that makes you feel light and guilt-free, and it's delicious!

The baristas were warm and polite, tall, handsome, and gentle too! They enthusiastically invited me to the Gold Card Night and explained the coffee in great detail.

On the afternoon of Christmas Eve, I met up with a good friend for afternoon tea at Starbucks.

The 'Christmas Snow Tree Matcha Latte,' a limited-edition drink for Christmas 2019. I thought I'd tried all three Christmas drinks this year and that there were no more new ones, but then I discovered this limited-time offering. They didn't have a Tall size, so I ordered a Grande. Unfortunately, it didn't quite match the promo picture—the Christmas tree-shaped whipped cream on top sank too quickly, which is hard to avoid with a hot drink. But as a matcha lover, I absolutely loved it.