Application of lactic acid bacteria for production of fermented beverages based on rice flour

We investigated the suitability of rice flour for fermented beverage production using various strains of lactic acid bacteria. Fermentation led to a decrease in pH from 5.04-5.17 to 3.74-4.35. At the same time, total acidity increased (1.28-2.59 g/l) due to lactic acid (0.59-2.76 g/l) and acetic acid (0.11-0.30 g/l) production. Fermentation of rice beverages also caused a gradual decrease in glucose and fructose concentration. Lactic acid bacteria proliferated in the first phases of fermentation, and cell counts reached a maximum after 12 h. The highest growth rate (vLAB = 0.44 Log10 CFU/ml/h) was observed in a sample with the culture of Lactobacillus brevis CCM 1815. Viscosity of beverages decreased significantly after 24 h of fermentation. The highest values of sensory parameters were observed in a monoculture of Lactobacillus plantarum CCM 7039 and in a sample with a mixed culture of Lactobacillus plantarum CCM 7039 and Bifidobacterium longum CCM 4990.