A Dairy-Free Diwali: Oat Milk Kheer, Festive Chai and Healthy Gift Ideas (2026)

Last updated: November 2026. Reading time: about 6 minutes.

Quick answer: You can make a fully dairy-free Diwali without giving up kheer, chai or festive gifting. Swap dairy milk for oat milk or millet milk in your usual recipes, sweeten at the end, and pick plant-based gift packs for friends who are lactose intolerant, vegan or simply eating lighter this season. This Diwali, the whole Oatey range is 45% off with code RIZEwithOATEY45.

Key takeaways:

• Oat milk and millet milk are naturally lactose-free, so one batch of kheer or chai works for every guest at the table.
• Plant milks can catch or split if you boil them hard with sugar, so cook on low heat and sweeten at the end.
• Kesar Badam Millet Milk already carries saffron and almond flavour, which makes it a shortcut for kheer and thandai-style drinks.
• Barista Oat Milk is unsweetened and made for frothing, so it is the one to keep for chai and coffee.
• For gifting, the Limited Edition Assorted Box and the 8-drink All in One pack are easy, healthy alternatives to another box of mithai.

How the Diwali code works

The code RIZEwithOATEY45 takes 45% off your order across the Oatey range. It is not applied automatically, so remember to type it in at checkout. Here is what a few favourites come to with the code:

Product	Price	With RIZEwithOATEY45
Barista Oat Milk, Pack of 8	₹505	₹277.75
Kesar Badam Millet Milk, Pack of 6	₹378	₹207.90
Chocolate Oat Milk, Pack of 8	₹505	₹277.75
Oat Protein Milk Coffee (18g protein), Pack of 6	₹659	₹362.45
Limited Edition Assorted Box	₹850	₹467.50

One discount code can be used per order. Prices are before delivery charges; orders above ₹700 ship free.

Why go dairy-free this Diwali

Diwali food leans heavily on milk: kheer, rabdi, barfi, chai on repeat for every guest. That is a lot of dairy for anyone who is lactose intolerant, and a large share of Indian adults are. If milk leaves you bloated, our guide to lactose free milk in India explains the symptoms and the best swaps.

Going dairy-free for the festival does not mean giving anything up. Oat milk is naturally creamy, millet milk brings a gentle nutty sweetness, and both hold up in Indian cooking when you treat them right. If you are still choosing between plant milks, read oat milk vs almond milk first.

4 easy dairy-free Diwali recipes

1. Kesar badam kheer with millet milk (serves 4)

You need: 1/4 cup basmati or gobindobhog rice (washed and soaked for 30 minutes), 3 packs (600 ml) Oatey Kesar Badam Millet Milk, 2 to 3 tbsp jaggery powder or sugar (to taste), 4 green cardamom pods (crushed), a pinch of saffron, and chopped almonds and pistachios to finish.

1. Cook the rice in 1 cup of water on medium heat until soft and most of the water is absorbed.
2. Lower the heat, pour in the millet milk and simmer gently for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often so nothing catches at the bottom.
3. Add the cardamom and saffron and cook for 2 more minutes.
4. Take the pan off the heat, then stir in the jaggery or sugar. Adding sweetener off the heat keeps plant milk smooth.
5. Serve warm or chilled, topped with nuts.

Tip: plant milks thicken a little less than full-fat dairy. For a richer kheer, add 1 extra tablespoon of rice or simmer 5 minutes longer.

2. Festive masala chai with barista oat milk (serves 4)

You need: 1.5 cups water, 2 tsp chai patti, 1 inch ginger (crushed), 4 cardamom pods, 2 cloves, a small piece of cinnamon, 2 packs (400 ml) Oatey Barista Oat Milk, sugar or jaggery to taste.

1. Boil the water with the ginger and spices for 2 minutes, then add the tea and brew for 1 minute.
2. Pour in the oat milk and bring it just to a rolling boil, then turn the heat down and let it bubble gently for a minute.
3. Strain, sweeten and serve.

Barista Oat Milk is unsweetened, so you control the sweetness, and it is made to froth, which gives chai that creamy, café-style top.

3. Thandai-style welcome drink (serves 4, no cooking)

Chill 3 packs of Kesar Badam Millet Milk. Blend with a pinch of fennel powder, a pinch of black pepper, 2 crushed cardamom pods and a few dried rose petals. Pour over ice and finish with crushed pistachios. It takes two minutes and looks lovely on a festive tray.

4. Hot chocolate for the kids after the phuljhadis

Warm Oatey Chocolate Oat Milk gently in a pan (do not let it boil hard) and serve in small cups with a pinch of cinnamon. It is ready in under 5 minutes and is a cosy end to a late night.

Healthy Diwali gift ideas

• Limited Edition Assorted Box: 6 assorted Oatey drinks plus a customised Ajinkya Rahane chocolate bar. A ready-made gift for families, colleagues and clients.
• All in One Pack: 8 drinks across the range, so the person you are gifting can find their favourite.
• Oat Protein Milk Coffee, Pack of 6: for the friend who is still going to the gym through the festive week. 18g plant protein and bold coffee flavour.
• Barista Oat Milk: for the home coffee lover who has just bought a frother.
• New: the Barista Oat Milk 1 litre carton is now open for pre-order at a ₹239 launch price. Read more in our 1L launch post.

Hosting tips for a dairy-free Diwali

• Keep a few packs of Barista Oat Milk next to the stove so every round of chai can be dairy-free.
• Label your dairy-free sweets on the table so guests who avoid lactose know what they can enjoy.
• Make the kheer a day ahead. Like the dairy version, it tastes even better after a night in the fridge.
• Stock up while the code is live: tetra packs keep well in the cupboard until opened. Once opened, refrigerate and follow the pack instructions.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make kheer with oat milk or millet milk?

Yes. Simmer gently on low heat, stir often, and add the sugar or jaggery after you take the pan off the heat. Kesar Badam Millet Milk gives the most festive flavour with no extra effort.

Can I boil oat milk for chai?

Yes. Barista Oat Milk is made for hot drinks. Bring it to a boil with the tea, then lower the heat rather than boiling it hard for a long time.

How do I use the Diwali code?

Add products to your cart, go to checkout and enter RIZEwithOATEY45 in the discount code box. The 45% discount is applied to your order before you pay.

Can I combine the Diwali code with another code?

No. One discount code can be used per order.

Is Oatey suitable for lactose-intolerant guests?

Yes. Oat milk and millet milk are naturally lactose-free and dairy-free.