Zoom-koom is a traditional fermented beverage from Burkina Faso based on cereals such as millet or
sorghum. Samples were collected from two local production sites of microenterprises (Zogona and
Dassasgho). Microorganisms dynamic during the production of zoom-koom were enumerated using
pour plate methods. The titratable acidity, pH and temperature of fermentation were determined using
respectively titrimetric and electrochemical methods. The results showed a decrease in pH and an
increase in acidity during soaking and fermentation step. While the enterobacteria and yeasts counts
decreased (p˂0.05), lactic acid bacteria (LAB) counts increased (p˂0.05). On average, the pH decreased
from 5.7 to 4.1; the lactic acid concentration ranged from 0.45 to 0.71 (lactic acid g/100 g) and the LAB
ranged from 2.2×108 to 5.6×108 CFU/g for the millet dough. For the red sorghum dough the pH
decreased from 6.2 to 4.2; the lactic acid concentration increased from 0.15 to 0.49 (lactic acid g/100 g)
and LAB ranged from 8.9×106 to 5×1010 CFU/g. The ambient temperature and nature of the grains had an
impact on the fermentation process. Unfermented red sorghum zoom-koom had the lowest load of
yeast and enterobacteria than unfermented millet zoom-koom. Short rods in pair or short chains (3 or 4
rods) bacteria are the main microorganisms responsible of the fermentation process.

Sorghum, millet, fermentation, zoom-koom