Preparation of fermented dairy drink (FDD)
Raw cow’s milk procured from the Experimental Dairy
Plant of the Institute was standardized to 3.5 % fat and
8.5 % SNF. The milk was heated at 85 °C for 30 min
followed by cooling to 30 °C. Dahi culture (Lactococcus
lactis spp. lactis) sourced from the Dairy Bacteriology Section
of the institute was added to the milk at the rate of 2 %
and the mix was incubated at 30 °C for 18 h till the curd was
firmly set. Sugar (15 % milk basis) along with 0.3 % guar
gum (stabilizer) was dissolved in boiling water (10 % milk
basis), filtered and cooled to yield the sugar syrup. The level
of addition of sugar and stabilizer was based on our preliminary
evaluations and are in agreement with the levels
reported in literature The set curd was broken by mild agitation and
carefully blended with the sugar syrup. The FDD, thus
prepared, was homogenized at 150 psi in a APV Crepaco
homogensier. The fermented dairy drink was cooled to 7±
1 °C and filled into sanitised glass bottles of 200 ml capacity
for carbonation and storage.