A starter culture or kit of parts, comprising a first, capsular, optionally negatively charged, optionally mesophilic, exopolysaccharide producing lactic acid bacterial strain and a second, non-capsular, optionally neutral, optionally thermophilic, exopolysaccharide producing lactic acid bacterial strain, wherein a weight ratio of the weight of the first exopolysaccharide producing lactic acid bacterial strain to the weight of the second exopolysaccharide producing lactic acid bacterial stain in the starter culture lies in a range from equal to or more than 1:1 to equal to or less than 100:1, optionally in a range from equal to or more than 10:1 to equal to or less than 100:1.