Disclosed is a novel lactic acid bacterium belonging toLactobacillus plantarum, which has an excellent fermentativeability affording high achievable cell counts even if variousvegetable or fruit juices are used as fermentative substrates.The lactic acid bacterium belonging to Lactobacillus plantarum ischaracterized by the achievable viable cell counts being 10 8 CFU/mlor more in both cases when 100% juice of grape or of orange is usedas fermentative substrate.