Changes in Microflora and Enzyme Activities of Traditional Kochujang Meju during Fermentation

재래식 고추장 메주 숙성 중 미생물과 효소력의 변화

This study was designed to investigate the changes in microflora and enzyme activities of traditional kochujang meju during fermentation for 60 days. The pH of meju decreased continously up to 40 days of aging and then increased slightly thereafter, while the change in titratable acidity showed the opposite trend to that of pH. The viable cell count of aerobic bacteria increared gradually for up to 40 days of fermentation and then decreased slightly thereafter, while that of molds and yeasts showed a rapid increase up to 40 days of fermentation and then leveled off. ${\alpha}-amylase$ activity increased slightly for up to 40 days of meju fermentation and then stabilized. On the other hand, ${\beta}-amylase$ and glucoamylase activities did not show a significant change for up to 20 days of fermentation and then increased rapidly at 40th day of fermentation. Acidic, neutral and alkaline protease activities increased sharply up to 40 days of aging and then decreased significently at 60th day of fermentation. These results suggest that meju fermented for 40 days had the highest quality in terms of the number of microflora and enzyme activity.