Capsule clusters for oral consumption
An oral product includes a matrix including a mixture of a plurality of capsules, a powdered component, a viscous component and a binder and wherein the matrix is molded into a shape. In a preferred embodiment, the capsules provide functional and flavorful ingredients. In an embodiment, the matrix is enclosed in a porous material that forms a pouch.
1. An oral product comprising a matrix comprising a mixture of a binder, a viscous component, an optional powdered component, and a plurality of capsules, the matrix is molded into a shape sized and configured to fit comfortably in a user's mouth,
wherein said oral product includes about 2 to 40 functional and/or flavor capsules, each capsule ranging in length from about 1 mm to about 14 mm, and
wherein said viscous component is included in the oral product in an amount of about 20% to about 70% by weight of the oral product.
2. The oral product of claim 1 , wherein said shape is selected from the group consisting of a pouch, sphere, rectangle, square, crescent, oblong, oval, rod-shape, and combinations thereof and wherein the viscous component being selected from the group consisting of honey, molasses, syrup, and combinations thereof.
3. The oral product of claim 1 , wherein the matrix is contained in a porous pouch of a pouched oral product.
4. The oral product of claim 1 , wherein the functional and/or flavor capsules provide multiple textures and flavors when placed in a user's mouth and wherein the plurality of functional and/or flavor capsules forms the majority of the oral product.
5. The oral product of claim 4 , wherein said matrix further includes a powdered component in an amount of about 10% to about 40% by weight of the oral product, the powdered component being selected from the group consisting of dry sour cream, powdered sugar, powdered spices, powdered herbs, powdered botanicals including tea, herbs, and/or spices, powdered cocoa, and combinations thereof.
6. The oral product of claim 4 , wherein the viscous component is selected from the group consisting of honey, molasses, syrup, and combinations thereof.
7. The oral product of claim 4 , wherein each of said functional and/or flavor capsules is activated by a mechanism selected from the group consisting of mastication, pH change, sucking, and combinations thereof.
8. The oral product of claim 4 , wherein said functional capsules release (a) an effervescent; (b) a vitamin; (c) a soothing ingredient; (d) an energizing ingredient; (e) an alerting ingredient; and/or (f) a calming ingredient.
9. The oral product of claim 8 , wherein said soothing ingredient is selected from the group consisting of chamomile, lavender, jasmine, and combinations thereof.
10. The oral product of claim 8 , wherein said energizing ingredient is selected from the group consisting of caffeine, taurine, guarana, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and combinations thereof.
11. The oral product of claim 4 , wherein said oral product weighs about 0.5 g to about 5.0 g or about 0.2 g to about 0.5 g and has dimensions of less than about 25 mm.
12. The oral product of claim 4 , wherein said oral product is coated with a super-hydrated membrane coating including a soluble, non-cross-linked component and an insoluble, cross-linked component and wherein said super-hydrated membrane coating is about 0.01 mm to about 3.0 mm thick when completely dried.
13. The oral product of claim 12 , wherein said soluble, non-cross-linked component is formed by a non-cross-linkable polymer selected from the group consisting of starch, dextrin, gum arabic, guar gum, chitosan, cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, polylactide gelatin, soy protein, whey protein, and combinations thereof.
14. The oral product of claim 12 , wherein said insoluble, cross-linked component is formed by cross-linking a cross-linkable polymer with a cross-linking agent, and wherein said cross-linkable polymer is a chemically cross-linkable polymer selected from the group consisting of alginate, pectin, carrageenan, modified polysaccharides with cross-linkable functional groups, and combinations thereof.
15. The oral product of claim 12 , wherein the membrane comprises a single layer having an inner surface in contact with the matrix and an outer surface which is exposed to saliva and tissue in the oral cavity when placed therein.
16. The oral product of claim 4 , wherein said oral product is enclosed in a porous material that forms a pouch.
17. The oral product of claim 16 , wherein said pouch is dissolvable and/or disintegrable.
18. The oral product of claim 4 , wherein said matrix is molded into a shape chosen from the group consisting of pouch, half-moon, crescent, oblong, rhombus, trapezoid, rectangle, square, oval, sphere, heart, rod-shape, and combinations thereof, and wherein said matrix is molded into a shape that is indicative of a flavor contained therein.
19. The oral product of claim 4 , wherein the binder is selected from the group consisting of sodium alginate, sugar, agar, guar gum, flour and water, maltodextrin, combinations thereof and the like.
20. The oral product of claim 1 , wherein said viscous component is included in the oral product in an amount of about 40% to about 70% by weight of the oral product.
21. The oral product of claim 1 , wherein said viscous component is included in the oral product in an amount of about 60% to about 70% by weight of the oral product.
22. The oral product of claim 1 , wherein the functional and/or flavor capsules comprise a vitamin, a gas or baking soda.