Coated colloidal ground plant materials
A method of providing a comestible plant material taken orally by coating a micronized plant material with a first layer of polysaccharides or proteins, then a second layer of polysaccharides or proteins is disclosed. A bi-encapsulated plant material produced by this process is also disclosed.
1. A coated particle of plant material which comprises
a base particle of finely-ground plant material;
a first polymeric coating material at least partially coating the base particle, said first coating material being selected from the group consisting of proteins, cationic polysaccharides or oligosaccharides, non-ionic polysaccharides or oligosaccharides, and mixtures of them; and
a second polymeric coating material at least partially coating the first coating, said second coating material being selected from polysaccharides, proteins, a mixture of polysaccharides, a mixture of proteins, or a mixture of polysaccharides and proteins, said second coating material further comprising potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron or a combination thereof,
wherein the first polymeric coating material and second polymeric coating material form a coacervate gel at least partially in direct contact with the base particle, and
wherein
the first polymeric coating material comprises Na- or Ca-caseinate and the second polymeric coating material comprises k-carrageenan, i-carrageenan or pectin, or
the first polymeric coating material comprises tobacco sourced protein and the second polymeric coating material comprises k-carrageenan or pectin.
2. The coated particle of claim 1 , wherein:
the coated particle has a zeta potential value between about −5 mV and about −60 mV.
3. The coated particle of claim 1 , wherein:
(i) the base particle has a cross section less than about 1000 microns;
(ii) the coated particle comprises:
(a) plant material in an amount of about 10 to about 90% by dry weight,
(b) first polymeric coating in an amount of about 20% to about 1% by dry weight,
(c) second polymeric coating material in an amount of about 50% to about 5% by dry weight;
(iii) the coated base particle has a moisture content of less than about 15% by weight;
(iv) the coated particle has a net negative or neutral charge; or
(v) combinations of two or more of (i) to (iv).
4. A palatable or comestible product comprising one or more coated particles of claim 1 .
5. The palatable or comestible product of claim 4 , having the form of a tablet, stick, chewable gum, spongy material, foams, creams, or fibers, or a form suitable to be contained in a pouch.
6. The palatable or comestible product of claim 4 , wherein any protein in the product is allergen-free.
7. The coated particle of claim 1 , wherein
the first polymeric coating material comprises tobacco sourced protein and the second polymeric coating material comprises k-carrageenan, or
the first polymeric coating material comprises tobacco sourced protein and the second polymeric coating material comprises pectin.