Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) fruit as a new source of milk-clotting cysteine proteases

•Noni puree extract (NPE) is useful as a novel milk coagulant.•NPE proteases showed maximum activity at pH 6.0 and 50 °C.•NPE enzymes was highly stable when stored at −20 °C in the freeze-dried form.•The proteolytic activity of NPE and chymosin toward κ-casein is comparable.•Cheeses produced with NPE presented high humidity and soft texture.