Screening and characterization of fungal cultures for a milk-clotting enzyme for use in an oriental style dairy product

Abstract

SummaryThe aim of this work was to develop new oriental style dairy products coagulated with culture filtrates from lao-chao, a traditional fermented rice product. The fermenting fungal cultures screened wereRhizopus javanicus, Rhiz. oryzae, Rhiz. chinensis, Rhiz. oligosporus, Aspergillus oryzae, Mucor racemosusand chiu-yao, a commercial starter. All the inocula liquefied a steamed glutinous rice base and produced culture filtrates with both milk-clotting and proteolytic activities. Of the fungal products tested,Rhiz. javanicuswas the most successful, producing a good yield of culture filtrate with the desired milk-clotting activity, and the resultant yogurt-like product was more acceptable to consumers than any except that from chiu-yao. The firmness was less acceptable, but this could be improved by using mixed pure cultures ofRhiz. javanicusandM. racemosus.