Microflora of banh men, a fermentation starter from Vietnam

In this study Banh men samples obtained from Vietnam were analysed in terms of pH, moisture content and fungal composition. The banh men pH proved to be acidic with a mean pH of 5.76. Moisture content was 13.6%. Total mould a nd yeast counts yielded 1.3 x 10(6) and 4.3 x 10(6) c.f.u./g-fresh sample, respectively. A total of 53 fungal isolates were obtained from 20 moulds an d 33 yeasts. The mould isolates were identified as Rhizopus oryzae, Mucor i ndicus, Mucor circinilloides, and Amylomyces rouxii. The yeast isolates wer e identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Hyphopichia burtonii, Saccharomyc opsis fibuligera, Pichia anomala, and Candida sp. Based on the parameters u sed in this study, it can be deduced that banh men is similar to ragi and o ther Asian fermentation starters.