Fermented milk and method for producing same

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a fermented milk whereby a fermented milk having a sufficient hardness and a smooth texture can be produced without lowering the production efficiency of the fermented milk. The method according to the present invention for producing a fermented milk comprises: a step for homogenizing a starting milk material so as to reducethe average grain size of the starting milk material; a step for pasteurizing the starting milk material at 115-150 degrees centigrade before or after the step for homogenizing the starting milk material; and a step for fermenting the starting milk material after the step for homogenizing the starting milk material and the step for pasteurizing the starting milk material. 本发明的目的在于，提供可以不降低发酵乳的生产效率地制造具有足够的硬度、并且口感爽滑的发酵乳的发酵乳的制造方法，本发明是如下的发酵乳的制造方法，即，包括：以减小原料乳的平均粒径的方式对原料乳进行均质化的工序、在对原料乳进行均质化的工序之前或之后在115℃～150℃对原料乳进行灭菌的工序、以及在对原料乳进行均质化的工序及对原料乳进行灭菌的工序之后使原料乳发酵的工序。