Method and device for flavoring smokeless tobacco
An encapsulated flavorant or artificial sweetener for use with smokeless tobacco and related products. The encapsulated flavorant or artificial sweetener comprises a core encapsulated with a lipid-based coating that provides stability when in contact with tobacco, yet releases flavor over time when the product is used. The core comprises a carrier, such as silica, tobacco, beet fiber, citrus fiber, artificial sweetener, or the like, coated or loaded with a flavorant. Flavor loading may be in the range of approximately 10% to 60%, by weight. Flavorants include, but are not limited to, methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen), cinnamon (e.g., cinnamon oil), peppermint (e.g., peppermint oil), and spearmint (oil of spearmint).
1. An encapsulated flavor composite, comprising:
a solid core including,
a carrier including silica, and
a flavor component, the flavor component being plated onto the carrier, agglomerated with the carrier, absorbed into the carrier, or any combination thereof, an amount of the carrier ranging from 24% to 51% of the encapsulated flavor composite, and an amount of the flavor component ranging from 14% to 34% of the encapsulated flavor composite; and
a lipid coating continuously surrounding the solid core, the lipid coating present in an amount ranging from 30% by weight to 50% by weight of the encapsulated flavor composite and including a combination of a monoglyceride and a triglyceride, the lipid coating including a ratio of monoglyceride to triglyceride of 10:90,
wherein the encapsulated flavor composite is configured to be combined with a smokeless tobacco product having a moisture content greater than about 30%,
wherein the encapsulated flavor composite is configured to be stable in the smokeless tobacco product, the smokeless tobacco product having a salt concentration of 1% to 10%, and
wherein the encapsulated flavor composite has a particle size ranging from 1 mm to 3 mm.
2. The encapsulated flavor composite of claim 1 , wherein the flavor component comprises methyl salicylate.
3. The encapsulated flavor composite of claim 1 , wherein the flavor component comprises cinnamon.
4. The encapsulated flavor composite of claim 1 , wherein the flavor component comprises an artificial sweetener.
5. The encapsulated flavor composite of claim 1 , wherein the carrier further comprises tobacco, citrus fiber, beet fiber, or any combination thereof.
6. The encapsulated flavor composite of claim 1 , wherein the lipid coating is applied to the solid core in a fluid bed process.
7. The encapsulated flavor composite of claim 1 , wherein the lipid coating is configured to be stable in a packaged tobacco product.
8. The encapsulated flavor composite of claim 1 , wherein the flavor component is present in an amount ranging from 20% by weight to 50% by weight of the solid core.
9. The encapsulated flavor composite of claim 1 , wherein the flavor component is configured to be time-released.
10. The encapsulated flavor composite of claim 1 , wherein the encapsulated flavor composite is configured to be combined with another flavor composite having a different time-release period, and the smokeless tobacco product.
11. The encapsulated flavor composite of claim 10 , wherein the encapsulated flavor composite is configured to be combined with a liquid flavorant, the other flavor composite, and the smokeless tobacco product.
12. The encapsulated flavor composite of claim 1 , wherein the encapsulated flavor composite is configured to be combined with a liquid flavorant and the smokeless tobacco product.
13. A product, comprising:
tobacco; and
the encapsulated flavor composite of claim 1 .
14. An encapsulated flavor composite, comprising:
a core including,
a carrier comprising silica, and
a non-liquid flavor component, an amount of the carrier ranging from 24% to 51% of the encapsulated flavor composite, and an amount of the flavor component ranging from 14% to 34% of the encapsulated flavor composite; and
a lipid coating continuously surrounding the core, the lipid coating present in the encapsulated flavor composite in an amount ranging from 30% by weight to 50% by weight, the lipid coating including a combination of a monoglyceride and a triglyceride, and the lipid coating including a ratio of monoglyceride to triglyceride of 10:90,
wherein the encapsulated flavor composite is configured to be combined with a smokeless tobacco product having a moisture content greater than about 30%,
wherein the encapsulated flavor composite is configured to be stable in a smokeless tobacco product having a salt concentration of 1% to 10%, and
wherein the encapsulated flavor composite has a particle size ranging from 1 mm to 3 mm.
15. An encapsulated artificial sweetener composite, comprising:
a solid core consisting of,
an artificial sweetener present in an amount greater than or equal to 50% by weight of the encapsulated artificial sweetener composite, and
one or more flavorants, an amount of the flavor component ranging from 14% to 34% of the encapsulated flavor composite; and
a lipid coating continuously surrounding the solid core, the lipid coating present in the encapsulated flavor composite in an amount ranging from 30% by weight to 50% by weight, the lipid coating including a combination of a monoglyceride and a triglyceride, and the lipid coating including a ratio of monoglyceride to triglyceride of 10:90,
wherein the encapsulated artificial sweetener composite is configured to be combined with a smokeless tobacco product having a moisture content greater than about 30%,
wherein the encapsulated artificial sweetener composite is configured to be stable in the smokeless tobacco product, the smokeless tobacco product having a salt concentration of 1% to 10%, and
wherein the encapsulated flavor composite has a particle size ranging from 1 mm to 3 mm.
16. The encapsulated artificial sweetener composite of claim 15 , wherein the artificial sweetener comprises saccharin.