Abstract: The invention concerns fermented dairy products whereof the Dornic acidity ranges from 20 to 80° D, the pH from 4.5 to 5.5, flavored with a warm flavour such as chocolate, caramel, vanilla, coffee, burnt almond, nougat, walnut, hazelnut, almond, peanut, cashew nut. The dairy raw material is treated in order to reduce its mineral salts and/or its protein contents, then subjected to fermentation by a lactic ferment.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses a Streptococcus thermophilus strain that has been deposited at the Collection Nationale de Cultures de Microorganismes (CNCM) under No. I-it 1477 and mutants that share similar milk acidification characteristics. The invention also covers processes for using the novel strain to prepare fermented dairy products and fermented products produced by these processes. Strain No. I-1477 possesses unique milk acidification properties that distinguish it from other related bacterial strains. Most importantly, the claimed Streptococcus strain exhibits both a rapid rate of acidification, which reduces the risk of bacterial contamination and extremely low post-acidification activity following fermentation, which helps preserve the fermentation products.

Abstract: The invention relates to a strain of Streptococcus thermophilus deposited at Collection Nationale de Cultures de Microorganismes (CNCM) No. I-1477 and a mutant strain that has similar milk acidification characteristics. Also disclosed is the use of the S. thermophilus strains to produce fermented milk products and the products produced thereby.