“A hug in a mug” has been used to describe coffee, hot cocoa, soup and tea. “There’s a hug in every mug” was trademarked for Carnation Hot Cocoa Mix (owned by Nestlé) with a first use on September 1, 1987. Batchelors (UK) CupaSoup began a “hug in a mug” advertising campaign in 2005.
 
“MMM Tea, hug in a mug” was cited on Twitter on November 29, 2008. “My mid-morning coffee is a hug in a mug” was cited on Twitter on June 24, 2009.
   
   
8 November 1987, Greensboro (NC) News and Record, advertising supplement:
There’s a hug in every mug!
(Carnation Hot Cocoa Mix.—ed.)
   
Google Groups: alt.funnytown
Married with Children!
Enzo Matrix
1/24/07
Just found this on another group:
 
Quote
A CUP-a-soup advertisement has attracted controversy after allegations a woman’s breast is groped.
(...)
Red faced Batchelors-Cup-a Soup bosses have now apologised.
 
A spokesman said “Everyone knows that Batchelors Cup a Soup is a delicious and warming hug in a mug. We bring this to life in our ads with a giant pair of furry arms which just can’t help giving Batchelors fans a great big hug. In the current ad the arms fling themselves around a woman in an airport concourse as she tucks in to a steaming mug of soup. The arms hug her around the shoulder and waist and, in so doing, make incidental contact with her breasts. There is nothing suggestive about this and it certainly wasn’t intended that way. We’re very surprised that anyone has taken offence. If they have, we’re sorry.”
 
Twitter
anitamartini
‏@anitamartini
Campbell’s Soup - it’s a hug in a mug.
8:50 PM - 7 Sep 2007
     
YouTube
Cup a soup Hug in a Mug
winwoodking
Uploaded on Jun 8, 2008
Big blue hairy arms selling us soup
 
Twitter
Tau Siroko
‏@tausiroko
MMM Tea, hug in a mug.
7:45 AM - 29 Nov 2008
 
Twitter
gkt_wales
‏@gkt_wales
Guilty pleasure: Cup a Soup. “A hug in a mug” yummm…(Tomato and Basil btw)
7:27 AM - 26 Jan 2009
 
Twitter
E Kristopher-Hartley
‏@efan78
@FizzyDuck Yep, it’s how @God would want coffee to be. Forget cupasoups for hug in a mug - you want chocolate, coffee, sugar and mint!
9:43 AM - 4 May 2009
 
Twitter
Kelda Reimers
‏@KeldaReimers
my mid-morning coffee is a hug in a mug 😊
1:12 PM - 24 Jun 2009
 
Google Books
A Year Straight:
Confessions of a Boy-Crazy Lesbian Beauty Queen
By Elena Azzoni
Berkeley, CA: Seal Press
2011
Pg. ?:
Red Rose tea with honey and milk—a hug in a mug.
   
Google Books
The Merlin Prophecy
By Jeff Berg
Bloomington, IN: iUniverse LLC
2013
Pg. 66:
“Perhaps have a hot cup of tea—it’s a hug in a mug.”
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark THERE’S A HUG IN EVERY MUG
Goods and Services (CANCELLED) IC 030. US 046. G & S: HOT COCOA MIX. FIRST USE: 19870901. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19870901
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 73834671
Filing Date October 30, 1989
Current Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition March 13, 1990
Registration Number 1599772
Registration Date June 5, 1990
Owner (REGISTRANT) SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE S.A. CORPORATION SWITZERLAND CASE POSTALE 353 VEVEY SWITZERLAND
Attorney of Record ROBERT H. SANDERS
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
Cancellation Date December 9, 1996