Translucent smokeless tobacco product

1. A smokeless tobacco product comprising:

isomalt in an amount of at least about 90% by weight based on the total weight of the product;

maltitol in an amount of about 0.1% to about 2% by weight;

from about 1% to about 4% by weight percent of a salt; and

a tobacco extract, the smokeless tobacco product being in the form of a translucent lozenge,

wherein the tobacco extract consists of compounds having a molecular weight of less than about 50,000 Da.

2. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 1 , wherein the tobacco extract is an ultrafiltered tobacco extract characterized as translucent or transparent.

3. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 1 , wherein the tobacco extract is a heat-treated tobacco extract that has been treated prior to inclusion in the smokeless tobacco product by heating the tobacco extract in an aqueous solution comprising L-lysine, L-cysteine, asparaginase, or hydrogen peroxide.

4. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 3 , wherein the aqueous solution further comprises NaOH.

5. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 1 , wherein the tobacco extract is a heat-treated tobacco extract that has been treated prior to inclusion in the smokeless tobacco product by heating the tobacco extract in an aqueous solution comprising L-lysine and NaOH.

6. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 1 , wherein the tobacco extract consists of compounds having a molecular weight of less than about 5,000 Da.

7. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 1 , further comprising one or more flavorants.

8. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 7 , wherein the amount of flavorant is from about 0.1 to about 1.5 percent by weight of the smokeless tobacco product.

9. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 7 , wherein the flavorant is vanillin, coffee, cream, fruit, or mint flavor.

10. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional artificial sweetener.

11. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 10 , wherein the at least one additional artificial sweetener comprises sucralose.

12. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 1 , wherein the salt is NaCl.

13. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 1 , further comprising an outer coating.

14. The smokeless tobacco product of claim 1 , wherein the tobacco extract comprises nicotine.

15. A method of preparing a translucent smokeless tobacco product comprising: isomalt in an amount of at least about 90% by weight based on the total weight of the product; maltitol in an amount of about 0.1% to about 2% by weight; from about 1% to about 4% by weight percent of a salt; and a tobacco extract, the smokeless tobacco product being in the form of translucent lozenge, wherein the tobacco extract consists of compounds having a molecular weight of less than about 50,000 Da, comprising:

(i) mixing isomalt and maltitol in a melted state to form a first mixture;

(ii) heating the first mixture to or past the hard crack stage;

(iii) cooling the first mixture to a temperature of no more than about 132° C.;

(iv) forming a second mixture comprising a translucent or transparent tobacco extract comprising nicotine and one or more additional ingredients selected from flavorants, salts, and artificial sweeteners;

wherein the translucent or transparent tobacco extract has been treated by size exclusion chromatography, microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, or a combination thereof and wherein the treatment removes components having a molecular weight above about 50,000 Da;

(v) mixing the second mixture with the first mixture after the cooling step to form a combined mixture;

(vi) pouring the combined mixture into a mold to form a lozenge.