Smokeless tobacco products

1. A tobacco product configured for insertion into the mouth of a user of that product, the tobacco product comprising:

a liquid-permeable fleece material pouch containing a tobacco formulation, the tobacco formulation including a granular tobacco composition, wherein material forming the fleece pouch further comprises a hydrophilic surface coating, and wherein fibers of the fleece pouch comprise a 4DG cross-section.

2. The tobacco product of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilicity of the hydrophilic surface is conferred by a food-grade surfactant.

3. The tobacco product of claim 2 , wherein the food-grade surfactant comprises one or more of sorbitan aliphatic acid ester, polyglycerin aliphatic acid ester, and sucrose aliphatic acid ester.

4. The tobacco product of claim 1 , wherein the fleece pouch further comprises a flavor-enhancing material.

5. The tobacco product of claim 1 , wherein the fleece pouch further comprises a food-grade low-melting biodegradable polymer coating an underlying polymer.

6. The tobacco product of claim 1 , wherein fibers of the fleece pouch comprise a bi-component material comprising one or more of regenerated cellulose, a polyhydroxyalkanoate, polylactic acid, plasticized cellulose acetate, and polycaprolactone.

7. The tobacco product of claim 1 , wherein the fleece pouch is constructed including at least one biodegradable polymer.

8. The tobacco product of claim 7 , wherein the biodegradable polymer comprises regenerated cellulose, a polyhydroxyalkanoate, polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, or a combination thereof.

9. The tobacco product of claim 7 , further comprising at least one flavorant.

10. The tobacco product of claim 9 , wherein the flavorant is incorporated into the fleece.

11. The tobacco product of claim 9 , wherein the flavorant is provided as a coating on the fleece, a fiber thereof, or both.

12. A method of making a tobacco product according to claim 1 , said method comprising steps of:

providing fiber for making a fleece material including said 4DG cross-section fibers;

applying an aqueous solution comprising a food-grade surfactant to the fiber;

forming fleece material,

ring-rolling the fleece material to improve elasticity thereof, and

forming the fleece material into a liquid-permeable fleece material pouch containing a tobacco formulation, the tobacco formulation including a granular tobacco composition, wherein material forming the fleece pouch further comprises a hydrophilic surface coating.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising applying at least one flavorant.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising a step of forming fleece material wherein the fleece material formed comprises a biodegradable polymer.

15. A tobacco product made according to the method of claim 12 .

16. A tobacco product comprising:

a ring-rolled fleece material pouch comprising a biodegradable polymer and a food-grade surfactant, which forms a hydrophilic surface of the fleece pouch;

a flavorant incorporated into material forming the pouch; and

a granular tobacco composition contained within the pouch.