TOBACCO LOZENGE
A tobacco lozenge includes a body configured to be wholly receivable in an oral cavity. The body includes a matrix including a soluble fiber in an amount greater than or equal to 60 weight percent of the body, tobacco plant tissue dispersed in the matrix, and an additive dispersed in the matrix.
1 . A method of forming a lozenges, the method comprising:
forming a mixture at a mixture temperature of less than or equal to 200° C., the mixture including soluble fibers in an amount greater than or equal to 95 weight percent, water, and an additive; and
portioning the mixture into a lozenge including a body, the body including a matrix comprising the soluble fibers and the additive dispersed within the matrix.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the additive is tobacco.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein tobacco is included in an amount greater than or equal to 1 weight percent.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming comprises:
mixing the soluble fibers and the additive in an extruder.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the portioning includes
extruding the mixture, and
reshaping the mixture after the mixture is extruded.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the additive includes colorants, sweeteners, flavorants, plasticizers, antioxidants, or any combination thereof.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein
the additive is tobacco plant tissue, and
the forming a mixture includes mixing dry ingredients including the soluble fibers and the tobacco plant tissue at a first location to form a powder.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the forming the mixture comprises:
mixing a group of solution ingredients including water and a sweetener at a second location.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the forming the mixture comprises:
mixing the dry ingredients and the group of solution ingredients in a first stage of an extruder at a temperature between 100° C. and 120° C. to form the mixture.
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
adding a flavor into the mixture downstream of the first stage of the extruder.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the soluble fibers includes maltodextrin, psyllium, inulin, arabinoxylans, cellulose, resistant starch, resistant dextrins, lignin, pectins, beta-glucans, oligosaccharides, or any combination thereof.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the additive includes a medium chain triglyceride.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixture is free of sugar and sugar alcohols.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixture has a glass transition temperature ranging from 50° C. to 120° C.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the additive includes an energizing agent.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixture includes less than 5 weight percent water.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the soluble fibers are digestion-resistant soluble fibers.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the portioning includes:
extruding the mixture into a sheet, and
cutting lozenges from the sheet.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the lozenges are cut using a stamping die.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the lozenges are cut while the mixture is at a temperature greater than a glass transition temperature of the mixture.