Meltable smokeless tobacco composition

1. A process for preparing a meltable smokeless tobacco composition configured for insertion into the mouth of a user, comprising:

melting a lipid having a melting point of about 36° C. to about 45° C. to form a molten lipid composition;

mixing a tobacco extract with the molten lipid composition to form a molten smokeless tobacco composition in the form of a slurry; and

cooling the molten smokeless tobacco composition to form a solidified smokeless tobacco composition,

wherein the tobacco extract is an aqueous tobacco extract in spray-dried or freeze-dried particulate form.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the lipid has a melting point of about 38° C. to about 41° C.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the lipid is an animal or plant derived fat, wax, or oil.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the lipid is a plant-derived fat comprising a plurality of saturated or unsaturated fatty acid chains having a carbon length of about 14 to about 20 carbon atoms.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the lipid comprises a blend of palm kernel oil and palm oil.

6. The process of claim 1 , further comprising the step of adding a salt to the particulate tobacco material prior to the mixing step.

7. The process of claim 1 , further comprising the step of adding an additional component to the molten smokeless tobacco composition, the additional component being selected from the group consisting of flavorants, binders, fillers, disintegration aids, humectants, and mixtures thereof.

8. The process of claim 1 , further comprising the step of adding a sugar alcohol to the molten smokeless tobacco composition.

9. The process of claim 1 , further comprising the step of depositing the molten smokeless tobacco composition in a mold so as to form the molten smokeless tobacco composition into a predetermined shape.

10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the tobacco extract is in the form of a particulate mixture of spray-dried or freeze-dried tobacco extract particles and a second spray-dried or freeze-dried particulate material.

11. The process of claim 10 , wherein the second particulate material is a filler or binder material.

12. The process of claim 11 , wherein the second particulate material is selected from the group consisting of maltodextrin, cyclodextrin, and natural gums.

13. The process of claim 1 , wherein the mixing step comprises adding the tobacco extract to the molten lipid composition.

14. The process of claim 13 , wherein the molten smokeless tobacco composition slurry has a moisture content of less than about 10 percent by weight.

15. The process of claim 1 , wherein the mixing step is conducted in a mixer.

16. The process of claim 1 , wherein the solidified smokeless tobacco composition comprises the lipid in an amount of at least about 20 percent on a dry weight basis.