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Lifestyle
Veganism in India: From Paneer to Honey, the Real Hurdles
✍️ TOI India
🗓 01 Nov 2026, 08:49 PM
👁 3
Adopting a vegan diet in India means navigating a food culture rich in dairy and honey. Experts point out the practical obstacles that make the transition difficult.
India’s culinary landscape is built around dairy, with paneer, ghee and milk‑based drinks forming staples in everyday meals.
For vegans, the absence of paneer, the unavailability of honey in many markets, and the ubiquity of milky chai pose immediate challenges.
Plant‑based substitutes—such as tofu, paneer made from soy or coconut milk, and oat or almond milk for tea—are gaining traction, especially in urban centres.
While the vegan community is expanding, the deep‑rooted reliance on dairy products means that a full transition remains a gradual process.
For vegans, the absence of paneer, the unavailability of honey in many markets, and the ubiquity of milky chai pose immediate challenges.
Plant‑based substitutes—such as tofu, paneer made from soy or coconut milk, and oat or almond milk for tea—are gaining traction, especially in urban centres.
While the vegan community is expanding, the deep‑rooted reliance on dairy products means that a full transition remains a gradual process.