Yes, you heard that right. I won the prestigious title “Best Beverage Blogger in India” this year at the IFBA2023 which is the Indian Food and Beverage Award hosted by the Food Bloggers Association of India (FBAI). This grand event took place at The Club in Mumbai, and in partnership with Godrej Vikhroli Cucina. The IFBA, widely recognized as the most esteemed event in the food and beverage industry, aims to acknowledge the outstanding contributions made by individuals and organizations in the F&B, hospitality, and lifestyle sectors.
However, my journey to this achievement has not been easy. You might be wondering what could be so challenging about writing blogs, read along.
I am a computer engineer by education. While I would say that I am an engineer by choice, the struggle to become one, coupled with the discouragement from my surroundings, led me to not pursue engineering as a career. Instead, I struggled through jobs in various other fields and finally settled as an Entrepreneur in 2022. However, my true passion lies in tea blogging.
I discovered my love for writing in 2019 when I left an interesting and emotional comment on a random contest post on Instagram. The prize for the contest was a hamper of tea, and I couldn’t resist expressing my deep affection for it. Little did I know that this would mark the beginning of my journey as a tea blogger.
Since 2021, I have dedicated myself to writing about tea, educating myself about this beloved beverage, and sharing my knowledge with my readers. Coming from an Indian society, it has presented its own set of difficulties. It took me over two months to meticulously design my blog, carefully considering every aspect – from the layout to the content. I pondered over what I wanted to write about, what kind of pictures I would capture, and much more. It was a process that required dedication, creativity, and a keen eye for detail. Sadly, many expressed their doubts and skepticism. Some even commented to my parents, saying, “Is this the kind of work your daughter is doing?”. Yet, I persevered and stayed true to my passion, dedicating myself to crafting engaging and informative content for my readership.
Although my work commitments make it difficult for me to travel to different places to experience various types of tea, I make the most of online resources to order and explore different teas from different regions and brands.
Tea has become more than just a beverage for me—it has become a way of life, a source of inspiration, and a means to connect with others who share the same love for this ancient and revered drink.