PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for producing fermented milk and a bacterial strain of a lactobacillus starter in which pH reduction can be effectively suppressed in the latter half period of fermentation.SOLUTION: A method for producing fermented milk includes: a process of adding a lactobacillus starter to a raw material mix to obtain a fermented milk base material； and a fermentation process of fermenting the fermented milk base material at 35°C to 50°C, and in the fermentation process, time required for dropping the pH of the fermented milk base material from 4.6 to 4.4 is 3 hours or more. Further, in the method for producing fermented milk, time required from adding the lactobacillus starter to the raw material mix until the pH of the fermented milk base material reaches 4.6 is 9 hours or less.SELECTED DRAWING: None【課題】発酵後半期においてｐＨの低下を効果的に抑制することのできる発酵乳の製造方法及び乳酸菌スタータの菌株の提供。【解決手段】原料ミックスに乳酸菌スタータを添加して発酵乳基材を得る工程と，発酵乳基材を３５℃～５０℃で発酵させる発酵工程とを含み，発酵工程において，発酵乳基材のｐＨが４．６から４．４にまで低下するまでの所要時間を３時間以上である発酵乳の製造方法。また，原料ミックスに前記乳酸菌スタータを添加してから発酵乳基材のｐＨが４．６に到達するまでの所要時間を９時間以内である発酵乳の製造方法。【選択図】なし
