{"id":41501,"date":"2025-04-21T18:21:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-21T12:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/2025\/04\/21\/breaking-barriers-puja-jain-makes-history-as-first-indian-to-win-coffee-journalism-award\/"},"modified":"2025-04-21T18:21:00","modified_gmt":"2025-04-21T12:51:00","slug":"breaking-barriers-puja-jain-makes-history-as-first-indian-to-win-coffee-journalism-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/2025\/04\/21\/breaking-barriers-puja-jain-makes-history-as-first-indian-to-win-coffee-journalism-award\/","title":{"rendered":"Breaking Barriers: Puja Jain Makes History as First Indian to Win Coffee Journalism Award"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Breaking-Barriers_-Puja-Jain-Makes-History-as-First-Indian-to-Win-Coffee-Journalism-Award-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Puja Jain receiving the award\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Breaking-Barriers_-Puja-Jain-Makes-History-as-First-Indian-to-Win-Coffee-Journalism-Award-1.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/pnndigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Breaking-Barriers_-Puja-Jain-Makes-History-as-First-Indian-to-Win-Coffee-Journalism-Award-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pnndigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Breaking-Barriers_-Puja-Jain-Makes-History-as-First-Indian-to-Win-Coffee-Journalism-Award-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pnndigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Breaking-Barriers_-Puja-Jain-Makes-History-as-First-Indian-to-Win-Coffee-Journalism-Award-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pnndigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Breaking-Barriers_-Puja-Jain-Makes-History-as-First-Indian-to-Win-Coffee-Journalism-Award-1-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/pnndigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Breaking-Barriers_-Puja-Jain-Makes-History-as-First-Indian-to-Win-Coffee-Journalism-Award-1-450x253.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"><\/p>\n<p><b>Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], April 21:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Puja Jain, Founder of Curly Brew, was honored with the Excellence in Nepal Coffee Journalism &amp; Storytelling Award, becoming the first Indian to receive this prestigious recognition. The award was presented in acknowledgment of her unwavering commitment to spotlighting the people, stories, and soul behind Nepal\u2019s emerging coffee culture.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The honor marks not only a personal milestone for Ms. Jain but also a wider acknowledgment of the vital role storytelling plays in shaping and uplifting niche industries like specialty coffee.<\/span><\/p>\n<h1><b>Brewing Dreams from the Hills of Nepal<\/b><\/h1>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having spent her childhood in the Terai region of Nepal, Puja Jain shared a deep-rooted connection with Nepal\u2014one that eventually drew her back to the country, not as a tourist, but as a solo traveler in search of purpose and stories. \u201cThere was a quiet voice within me urging me to return,\u201d says Jain. \u201cTo reconnect with the land, the people, and a part of myself I had left behind.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was during this journey, amidst the serene mountains and the warm hospitality of the people, that Jain discovered a hidden cultural asset \u2014 Nepal\u2019s high-altitude, organic coffee farms, quietly brewing a revolution.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regions such as Gulmi, Palpa, Gorkha, and Sindhupalchok, while celebrated for their beauty, are lesser known for their unique coffee terroirs. Here, farmers work with dedication and hope, cultivating beans with care and a vision for global recognition. Jain realized these voices and stories needed to be heard, not just locally, but globally.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>From Notes to a Movement<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Armed with nothing more than a phone, a notebook, and a storyteller\u2019s soul, Jain began capturing the heartbeat of Nepal\u2019s coffee scene \u2014 from roadside caf\u00e9s in Pokhara to remote farms nestled in the hills of Gorkha. Her storytelling transcended conventional marketing; it was raw, real, and resonant.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Through Curly Brew, a pioneering digital storytelling and coffee-focused media platform, Jain began to amplify these narratives. She engaged deeply with every part of the value chain \u2014 farmers, roasters, baristas, and consumers \u2014 turning personal encounters into global conversations about sustainability, craftsmanship, and community.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt wasn\u2019t just about content,\u201d she says. \u201cIt was about honoring every person behind the bean, every story behind the cup.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2><b>A Voice for the Voiceless in the Coffee World<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jain\u2019s work took her from caf\u00e9s and academies in Kathmandu to conversations with young baristas and entrepreneurs striving for excellence amid limited resources. Her content not only brought attention to their challenges but also celebrated their resilience and innovation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In her words, \u201cNepal\u2019s coffee culture isn\u2019t just growing \u2014 it\u2019s thriving with heart and hope.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-45008\" src=\"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Breaking-Barriers_-Puja-Jain-Makes-History-as-First-Indian-to-Win-Coffee-Journalism-Award-2.jpg\" alt=\"Coffee Journalism Award\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Breaking-Barriers_-Puja-Jain-Makes-History-as-First-Indian-to-Win-Coffee-Journalism-Award-2.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/pnndigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Breaking-Barriers_-Puja-Jain-Makes-History-as-First-Indian-to-Win-Coffee-Journalism-Award-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pnndigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Breaking-Barriers_-Puja-Jain-Makes-History-as-First-Indian-to-Win-Coffee-Journalism-Award-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pnndigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Breaking-Barriers_-Puja-Jain-Makes-History-as-First-Indian-to-Win-Coffee-Journalism-Award-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pnndigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Breaking-Barriers_-Puja-Jain-Makes-History-as-First-Indian-to-Win-Coffee-Journalism-Award-2-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/pnndigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Breaking-Barriers_-Puja-Jain-Makes-History-as-First-Indian-to-Win-Coffee-Journalism-Award-2-450x253.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"><\/p>\n<h2><b>A Moment of Recognition, A Lifetime of Purpose<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Receiving the Excellence in Coffee Journalism &amp; Storytelling Award is a deeply emotional milestone for Jain.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201cThis recognition belongs to every farmer who welcomed me into their world, every cup that carried a legacy, and every moment that brewed a connection to a land I now call home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Standing on the international stage, Jain reflected on her journey \u2014 one that began with a backpack and a dream, and has evolved into a global platform for advocacy and impact.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Her message to aspiring storytellers and dreamers is clear:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cTrust your inner voice. It may lead you back to your roots, your reason, and your revolution.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Connect with her on Instagram <\/span><b>@curlybreww<\/b><\/p>\n<p><em>If you object to the content of this press release, please notify us at pr.error.rectification@gmail.com. We will respond and rectify the situation within 24 hours.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], April 21: Puja Jain, Founder of Curly Brew, was honored with the Excellence in Nepal Coffee Journalism &amp; Storytelling Award, becoming the first Indian to receive this &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/2025\/04\/21\/breaking-barriers-puja-jain-makes-history-as-first-indian-to-win-coffee-journalism-award\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41502,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[682],"class_list":["post-41501","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","tag-lifestyle","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41501","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41501"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41501\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41502"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41501"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41501"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/financialtelegraph.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41501"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}