Tobacco granules and method of producing tobacco granules

1. A process for making a smokeless tobacco product comprising:

fluidizing a plurality of cores within a fluid bed processor, the cores having a first average diameter, the fluid bed processor including a rotor, each core of the plurality of cores including tobacco;

forming a first layer by feeding a plurality of tobacco particles into the fluid bed processor at a first rate, the plurality of tobacco particles having a second average diameter less than or equal to ⅕ the first average diameter;

spraying a first coating composition into the fluid bed processor, the first coating composition being a solution or suspension, the first coating composition including (i) a binder and (ii) a solvent or suspension fluid;

forming a second layer by varying a feed rate of the tobacco particles from the first rate to a second rate different than the first rate; and

collecting a plurality of granules formed after the spraying, the forming the first layer, and the forming the second layer, each granule of the plurality of granules including a core of the plurality of cores surrounded by the first layer having a first tobacco concentration and including the binder and a first portion of the plurality of tobacco particles and the second layer having a second concentration of tobacco particles different from the first concentration and including the binder and a second portion the plurality of tobacco particles, the first layer and the second layer being concentric.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the rotor comprises a conical rotor.

3. The process of claim 1 , further comprising:

introducing a flavorant into the fluid bed processor.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the first coating composition further comprises a flavorant.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the first coating composition further comprises the plurality of tobacco particles, and the feeding and the spraying are performed concurrently.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the feeding and the spraying are performed concurrently.

7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the feeding is performed prior to the spraying.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the feeding is performed after the spraying.

9. The process of claim 1 , further comprising:

feeding a plurality of starch particles into the fluid bed processor.

10. The process of claim 9 , further comprising:

mixing the plurality of starch particles with the plurality of tobacco particles to create a mixture prior to the feeding the plurality of starch particles and the feeding the plurality of tobacco particles; and

disposing the mixture in a common feeder prior to the feeding the plurality of starch particles and the feeding the plurality of tobacco particles.

11. The process of claim 1 , wherein

the fluid bed processor comprises a vessel having a wall, and

the rotor is disposed inside the vessel and spaced apart from the wall to define an annular clearance.

12. The process of claim 11 , wherein the fluidizing comprises concurrently rotating the rotor and flowing air through the annular clearance.

13. The process of claim 12 , wherein the rotating is performed at a rotor speed ranging from 50 revolutions per minute (RPM) to 500 RPM.

14. The process of claim 12 , wherein the flowing is performed at a flow rate ranging from 5 cubic feet per minute (CFM) to 100 CFM.

15. The process of claim 12 , wherein the air has a temperature ranging from 10° C. to 80° C.

16. The process of claim 1 , wherein the smokeless tobacco product includes a flavor profile including two different flavors configured to have peak flavor intensities being perceptible at different times during consumption in a standardized sensory evaluation.

17. The process of claim 16 , wherein the two different flavors include a first flavorant in the first layer and a second flavorant in the second layer.