To provide a method for efficiently producing an acetic acid bacterium-type ceramide expected to have physiological effects such as skin care effects by enabling acetic acid bacteria to contain the ceramide in high content.

The method for increasing the acetic acid bacterium-type ceramide, enabling the acetic acid bacteria to contain the acetic acid bacterium-type ceramide in the high concentration of 10-30 times of a conventional concentration involves holding the acetic acid bacteria after finishing the cultivation at pH 2.0-8.0 at 4-70°C for a period of 3 hr to 7 days. The acetic acid bacteria to be used are preferably Acetobacter malorum NCI1683 strain (FERM BP-10595) or Gluconacetobacter hansenii NCI1468 strain (FERM BP-10596).

COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT