Question

A sour milk product of Japan that is prepared from skim milk is

• A. Yoke
• B. Ymer
• C. Calpis
• D. Skyr

Hint:

Calpis is the iconic Japanese fermented milk beverage. It is produced from skim milk using a double-fermentation process driven by Lactobacillus helveticus and yeast.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Fermented milk beverages are traditional in many cultures and are adapted to local resources and preferences.
Several traditional products utilize skim milk to yield a low-fat, highly acidic, and stable product.
In Japan, a well-known sour milk beverage prepared from skim milk is Calpis.
This product undergoes a distinct double fermentation process involving both lactic acid bacteria and yeasts.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Calpis is a popular Japanese uncarbonated soft drink manufactured by Calpis Co., Ltd.
It is produced from nonfat dry milk (skim milk) through a controlled two-stage fermentation.
In the first stage, skim milk is fermented with a specific starter culture containing lactic acid bacteria (primarily Lactobacillus helveticus) to produce a high concentration of lactic acid.
In the second stage, a yeast strain is introduced to carry out a secondary alcoholic/aromatic fermentation, producing trace amounts of ethanol and highly aromatic esters.
After fermentation is complete, sugar is added, and the beverage is homogenized, pasteurized, and concentrated.
For comparison, Ymer is a Danish drained fermented milk, Skyr is an Icelandic high-protein strained product, and Yoke is not a recognized dairy product.
Thus, Calpis is the correct sour milk product of Japan.

Step 3: Final Answer
Calpis is the traditional Japanese sour milk product prepared from skim milk.