US20070062549A1

US20070062549A1 - Smokeless tobacco composition

Info

Publication number: US20070062549A1
Application number: US11/233,399
Authority: US
Inventors: Darrell Holton; Daniel Cantrell; James Figlar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co
Priority date: 2005-09-22
Filing date: 2005-09-22
Publication date: 2007-03-22
Also published as: CN101272703B; CN101272703A

Abstract

A smokeless tobacco product includes a powdered or granular smokeless tobacco formulation that is contained within a moisture-permeable packet or pouch. The smokeless tobacco formulation includes finely ground particles of tobacco in powder-like form and other ingredients such as sweeteners, binders, colorants, pH adjusters, fillers, flavoring agents, disintegration aids, antioxidants and preservatives. The container has the form of a pouch or bag, such as is the type commonly for the manufacture of snus products. The container is intended to be placed in the mouth of the tobacco user, in order that the dry tobacco formulation within the container may be enjoyed by the user. After the tobacco user is finished using the smokeless tobacco product, the container is removed from the user's mouth for disposal. Alternatively, the container is dissolvable or dispersible in the mouth of the user.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to tobacco, and in particular, to the use of tobacco in a smokeless form.
Cigarettes, cigars and pipes are popular smoking articles that employ tobacco in various forms. Such smoking articles are used by heating or burning tobacco, and aerosol (e.g., smoke) is inhaled by the smoker. Tobacco also can be enjoyed in a so-called “smokeless” form. Particularly popular smokeless tobacco products are employed by inserting some form of processed tobacco or tobacco-containing formulation into the mouth of the user.
Various types of smokeless tobacco products are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 1,376,586 to Schwartz; U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,756 to Pittman et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,993 to Sensabaugh, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,269 to Story et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,907 to Townsend; U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,352 to Sprinkle, III et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,416 to White et al.; PCT Application Pub. No. WO 2004/095959 to Arnarp et al. and PCT Application Pub. No. WO 2005/063060 to Atchley et al.; each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Representative types of moist snuff products, commonly referred to as “snus,” are manufactured in Europe, particularly in Sweden, by or through companies such as Swedish Match AB, Fiedler & Lundgren AB, Gustavus AB, Skandinavisk Tobakskompagni A/S and Rocker Production AB. Representative smokeless tobacco products also are marketed under the tradenames Oliver Twist by House of Oliver Twist A/S; Copenhagen, Skoal, Rooster, Red Seal, Husky, and Revel by U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co.; and Levi Garrett, Peachy, Taylor's Pride, Kodiak, Hawken Wintergreen, Grizzley, Dental, Kentucky King, and Mammoth Cave by Conwood Sales Co., L.P.
It would be desirable to provide an enjoyable form of a smokeless tobacco product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to smokeless tobacco product. The product possesses a powdered or granular smokeless tobacco formulation that is contained within a moisture-permeable container. The smokeless tobacco formulation includes granular particles of tobacco and other ingredients, such as sweeteners, binders, colorants, pH adjusters, fillers, flavoring agents, disintegration aids, antioxidants, and preservatives. The container has the form of a pouch or bag, such as is the type commonly for the manufacture of snus types of products. The container is intended to be placed in the mouth of the tobacco user, in order that the dry tobacco formulation within the container can be enjoyed by the user. After the tobacco user is finished using the smokeless tobacco product, the container is removed from the user's mouth for disposal. Alternatively, the container may be manufactured from a water dissolvable or dispersible material, such that the tobacco formulation and the container each may be ingested by the user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Tobaccos used for the manufacture of tobacco products pursuant to the present invention can vary. The tobaccos may include types of tobaccos such as flue-cured tobacco, burley tobacco, Oriental tobacco, Maryland tobacco, dark tobacco, dark-fired tobacco and Rustica tobaccos, as well as other rare or specialty tobaccos. Descriptions of various types of tobaccos, growing practices, harvesting practices and curing practices are set for in Tobacco Production, Chemistry and Technology, Davis et al. (Eds.) (1999). See, also, the types of tobaccos that are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,577 to Sensabaugh, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,416 to White et al.; and U.S. Pat. Application 2004/0084056 to Lawson et al., each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Most preferably, the tobacco materials are those that have been appropriately cured and aged. Especially preferred techniques and conditions for curing flue-cured tobacco are set forth in Nestor et al., Beitr. Tabakforsch. Int., 20 (2003) 467-475 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,895,974 to Peele, which are incorporated herein by reference. Representative techniques and conditions for air curing tobacco are set forth in Roton et al., Beitrage Tabakforsch. Int., 21 (2005) 305-320 and Staaf et al., Beitrage Tabakforsch. Int., 21 (2005) 321-330, which are incorporated herein by reference.
Tobacco products of the present invention may incorporate one type of tobacco (e.g., in a so-called “straight grade” form). For example, the tobacco within a tobacco product can be composed solely of flue-cured tobacco (e.g., all of the tobacco may be composed, or derived from, either flue-cured tobacco lamina, or a mixture of flue-cured tobacco lamina and flue-cured tobacco stem). The tobacco within a tobacco product also can have a so-called “blended” form. For example, the tobacco within a tobacco product may be composed of a mixture of parts or pieces of flue-cured, burley (e.g., Malawi burley tobacco) and Oriental tobaccos (e.g., as tobacco composed of, or derived from, tobacco lamina, or a mixture of tobacco lamina and tobacco stem). Exemplary tobacco blends incorporate about 75 parts flue-cured tobacco, about 15 parts burley tobacco and about 10 parts Oriental tobacco; about 65 parts flue-cured tobacco, about 25 parts burley tobacco and about 10 parts Oriental tobacco; and about 65 parts flue-cured tobacco, about 10 parts burley tobacco and about 25 parts Oriental tobacco; on a dry weight basis.
The tobacco that is used for the tobacco product most preferably includes tobacco lamina, or tobacco lamina and stem mixture, that has been cured and aged. Tobacco mixtures incorporating a predominant amount of tobacco lamina, relative to tobacco stem, are preferred. Most preferably, the tobacco lamina and stem are used in an unextracted form, that is, such that the extractable portion (e.g., the water soluble portion) is present within the unextractable portion (e.g., the tobacco pulp) in a manner comparable to that of natural tobacco provided in a cured and aged form. Most preferably, the tobacco is not provided in a reconstituted form, extruded form, or any form that has resulted from extraction and recombination of components of that tobacco. However, portions of the tobaccos within the tobacco product may have processed forms, such as processed tobacco stems (e.g., cut-rolled stems, cut-rolled-expanded stems or cut-puffed stems), or volume expanded tobacco (e.g., puffed tobacco, such as dry ice expanded tobacco (DIET)). In addition, the tobacco product optionally may incorporate tobacco that has been fermented. See, also, the types of tobacco processing techniques set forth in PCT Application Pub. No. WO 2005/063060 to Atchley et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.
The tobacco used for the manufacture of the tobacco product preferably is provided in a ground, granulated, fine particulate or powder form. Most preferably, the tobacco is employed in the form of parts or pieces that have an average particle size less than that of the parts or pieces of shredded tobacco used in so-called “fine cut” tobacco products. Preferably, the very finely divided tobacco particles or pieces are sized to pass through a screen of 20 Tyler mesh, more preferably sized to pass through a screen of 60 Tyler mesh, still more preferably sized to pass through a screen of 100 Tyler mesh, and may be sized so as to pass through a screen of 200 Tyler mesh. If desired, air classification equipment may be used in order to ensure that small sized tobacco particles of the desired sizes, or range of sizes, may be collected.
The manner by which the tobacco is provided in a finely divided or powder type of form may vary. Preferably, tobacco parts or pieces are comminuted, ground or pulverized into a powder type of form using equipment and techniques for grinding, milling, or the like. Most preferably, the tobacco is relatively dry in form during grinding or milling, using equipment such as hammer mills, cutter heads, air control mills, or the like. For example, tobacco parts or pieces may be ground or milled when the moisture content thereof is less than about 15 weight percent to less than about 5 weight percent. The tobacco may also be irradiated or pasteurized.
If desired, the tobacco material may be cased and dried, and then ground to the desired form. For example, the tobacco material may be cased with an aqueous casing containing components such as sugars (e.g., fructose, glucose and sucrose), humectants (e.g., glycerin and propylene glycol), flavoring agents (e.g., cocoa and licorice), and the like. Non-aqueous casing components preferably are applied to the tobacco in amounts of about 1 percent to about 15 percent, based on the dry weight of the tobacco.
The tobacco formulation may incorporate other components in addition to tobacco. Those components may alter the nature of the flavor provided by that formulation. For example, those components, or suitable combinations of those components, may act to alter the bitterness, sweetness, sourness or saltiness of the formulation; enhance the perceived dryness or moistness of the formulation; or the degree of tobacco taste exhibited by the formulation. Such other components may be salts (e.g., sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium citrate, potassium citrate, sodium acetate, potassium acetate, and the like); natural sweeteners (e.g., fructose, sucrose, glucose, maltose, mannose, galactose, lactose, and the like); artificial sweeteners (e.g., sucralose, saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame K, and the like), organic and inorganic fillers (e.g., grains, processed grains, puffed grains, maltodextrin, dextrose, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, corn starch, lactose, manitol, xylitol, sorbitol, finely divided cellulose, and the like); binders (e.g., povidone, sodium carboxymethylcellulose and other modified cellulosic types of binders, sodium alginate, xanthan gum, starch-based binders, gum arabic, lecithin, and the like); pH adjusters or buffering agents (e.g., metal hydroxides, preferably alkali metal hydroxides such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, and other alkali metal buffers such as potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, and the like); colorants (e.g., dyes and pigments, including caramel coloring and titanium dioxide, and the like); humectants (e.g. glycerin, propylene glycol, and the like); preservatives (e.g., potassium sorbate, and the like); syrups (e.g., honey, high fructose corn syrup, and the like); disintegration aids (e.g., microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, crospovidone, sodium starch glycolate, pregelatinized corn starch, and the like); antioxidants (e.g., ascorbic acid, grape seed extracts and oils, polyphenol-containing materials such as green tea extract and black tea extract, peanut endocarb, potato peel, and the like; see Santhosh et al., Phytomedicine, 12(2005) 216-220, which is incorporated herein by reference); and flavoring agents. Flavoring agents may be natural or synthetic, and the character of these flavors may be described, without limitation, as fresh, sweet, herbal, confectionary, floral, fruity or spice. Specific types of flavors include, but are not limited to, vanilla, coffee, chocolate, cream, mint, spearmint, menthol, peppermint, wintergreen, lavender, cardamon, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, cascarilla, sandalwood, honey, jasmine, ginger, anise, sage, licorice, lemon, orange, apple, peach, lime, cherry, and strawberry. See also, Leffingwill et al., Tobacco Flavoringfor Smoking Products, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (1972). Flavorings also may include components that are considered moistening, cooling or smoothening agents, such as eucalyptus. These flavors may be provided neat (i.e., alone) or in a composite (e.g., spearmint and menthol, or orange and cinnamon). Representative types of components also are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,416 to White et al. and PCT Application Pub. No. WO 2005/041699 to Quinter et al., each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The amount of tobacco within the tobacco formulation may vary. Preferably, the amount of tobacco within the tobacco formulation is at least about 25 percent to at least about 40 percent, on a dry weight basis. The amounts of other components within the tobacco formulation preferably are in excess of about 25 percent to in excess of about 40 percent, on a dry weight basis.
The relative amounts of the various other components within the tobacco formulation may vary. Any sweetener used most preferably is employed in amounts sufficient in order to provide desired flavor attributes to the tobacco formulation. When present, a representative amount of sweetener, whether an artificial sweetener and/or natural sugar, may make up at least about 1 percent to at least about 3 percent, of the total dry weight of the formulation. Preferably, the amount of sweetener within the formulation will not exceed about 40 percent, often will not exceed about 35 percent, and frequently will not exceed about 30 percent, of the total dry weight of the formulation. A binder may be employed in amounts sufficient in order to provide the desired physical attributes and physical integrity to the tobacco formulation. When present, a representative amount of binder may make up at least about 1 percent to at least about 3 percent of the total dry weight of the formulation. Preferably, the amount of binder within the formulation will not exceed about 20 percent of the total dry weight of the formulation. Often, often the amount of binder within a desirable formulation will not exceed about 15 percent, and frequently will not exceed about 10 percent, of the total dry weight of the formulation.
A disintegration aid may be employed in an amount sufficient to provide control of desired physical attributes of the tobacco formulation such as, for example, by providing loss of physical integrity and dispersion of the various component materials upon contact of the formulation with water (e.g., by undergoing swelling upon contact with water). When present, a representative amount of disintegration aid may make up at least about 1 percent to at least about 10 percent of the total dry weight of the formulation. Preferably, the amount of disintegration aid within the formulation will not exceed about 50 percent, and frequently will not exceed about 30 percent, of the total dry weight of the formulation.
A colorant may be employed in amounts sufficient in order to provide the desired visual attributes to the tobacco formulation. When present, a representative amount of colorant may make up at least about 1 percent to at least about 3 percent, of the total dry weight of the formulation. Preferably, the amount of colorant within the formulation will not exceed about 30 percent, and frequently will not exceed about 10 percent, of the total dry weight of the formulation. The filler preferably is employed in amounts sufficient in order to provide control of desired physical attributes and sensory attributes to the tobacco formulation. When present, a representative amount of filler, whether an organic and/or inorganic filler, may make up at least about 5 percent to at least about 15 percent, of the total dry weight of the formulation. Preferably, the amount of filler within the formulation will not exceed about 60 percent, and frequently will not exceed about 40 percent, of the total dry weight of the formulation. When present, a representative amount of buffering or pH adjusting agent may make up at least about 1 percent to at least about 3 percent of the total dry weight of the formulation. Preferably, the amount of buffering or pH adjusting agent within the formulation will not exceed about 10 percent, and frequently will not exceed about 5 percent, of the total dry weight of the formulation.
A flavoring agent preferably is employed in amounts sufficient in order to provide desired sensory attributes to the tobacco formulation. When present, a representative amount of flavoring agent may make up at least about 1 percent to at least about 3 percent of the total dry weight of the formulation. Preferably, the amount of flavoring agent will not exceed about 15 percent, and frequently will not exceed about 5 percent, of the total dry weight of the formulation. A salt may be employed in amounts sufficient in order to provide desired sensory attributes to the tobacco formulation. When present, a representative amount of salt may make up at least about 1 percent to at least about 3 percent of the total dry weight of the formulation. Preferably, the amount of salt within the formulation will not exceed about 10 percent, and frequently does not exceed about 5 percent, of the total dry weight of the formulation. When present, a representative amount of antioxidant, may make up at least about 1 percent to at least about 3 percent, of the total dry weight of the formulation. Preferably, the amount of antioxidant within the formulation will not exceed about 25 percent, and frequently will not exceed about 10 percent, of the total dry weight of the formulation. When present, a representative amount of preservative may make up at least about 0.1 percent to at least about 1 percent, of the total dry weight of the formulation. Preferably, the amount of preservative within the formulation will not exceed about 5 percent, and frequently will not exceed about 3 percent, of the total dry weight of the formulation.
Representative tobacco formulations may incorporate about 25 to about 60 percent tobacco, about 1 to about 5 percent artificial sweetener, about 1 to about 5 percent colorant, about 10 to about 60 percent organic and/or inorganic filler, about 5 to about 20 percent disintegrating aid, about 1 to about 5 percent binder, about 1 to about 5 percent pH-adjusting/buffering agent, flavoring agent in an amount of up to about 10 percent, preservative in an amount up to about 2 percent, and salt in an amount up to about 5 percent, based on the total dry weight of the tobacco formulation. The particular percentages and choice of ingredients will vary depending upon the desired flavor, texture, and other characteristics.
The manner by which the various components of the tobacco formulation are combined may vary. The various components of the formulation may be contacted, combined, or mixed together in conical-type blenders, mixing drums, ribbon blenders, or the like. As such, the overall mixture of various components with the powdered tobacco components may be relatively uniform in nature. See also, for example, the types methodologies set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,148,325 to Solomon et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,510,855 to Korte et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,834,654 to Williams, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The moisture content of the tobacco formulation prior to use by a consumer of the formulation may vary. Typically, the moisture content of the tobacco formulation, as present within the pouch prior to insertion into the mouth of the user, is less than 40 weight percent and preferably less than 15 weight percent. Certain highly preferred tobacco formulations have moisture contents, prior to use, of less than 10 weight percent to less than 5 weight percent.
The manner by which the moisture content of the formulation is controlled may vary. For example the formulation may subjected to thermal or convention heating. As a specific example, the formulation may be oven-dried, in warmed air at temperatures of about 40° C. to about 95° C., with a preferred temperature range of about 60° C. to about 80° C. for a length of time appropriate to attain the desired moisture content.
The tobacco formulation used for the manufacture of the tobacco product preferably is provided in a ground, granulated, fine particulate or powder form. Although not preferred, the tobacco formulation may be subjected to processing steps that provide a further grinding, and hence additional or further particle size reduction.
The pH of the formulation may vary. Typically, the pH of the formulation is at least about 6.5 and preferably about 7.5. Typically, the pH of the formulation will not exceed about 9, and often will not exceed about 8.5. A representative formulation exhibits a pH of about 6.8 to about 8.2. A representative technique for determining the pH of the formulation involve dispersing 2 g of the formulation in 10 ml of high performance liquid chromatography water, and measuring pH using a pH meter.
If desired, prior to preparation of the formulation, the tobacco parts or pieces may be irradiated, or those parts and pieces may be pasteurized, or otherwise subjected to controlled heat treatment. If desired, after preparation of all or a portion of the formulation, the component materials may be irradiated, or those component materials may be pasteurized, or otherwise subjected to controlled heat treatment. For example, a formulation may be prepared, followed by irradiation or pasteurization, and then flavoring agents may be applied to the formulation.
The moisture-permeable packet or pouch that acts as a container for use of the tobacco formulation may vary. Suitable packets or pouches are of the type used for the manufacture of smokeless tobacco products that are available under the tradenames CatchDry, Ettan, General, Granit, Goteborgs Rape, Grovsnus White, Metropol Kaktus, Mocca Anis, Mocca Mint, Mocca Wintergreen, Kicks, Probe, Prince, Skruf and TreAnkrare. The tobacco formulation may be contained in pouches and packaged, in a manner and using the types of components used for the manufacture of conventional snus types of products. The pouch provides a liquid-permeable container of a type that may be considered to be similar in character to the mesh-like type of material that is used for the construction of a tea bag. Components of the loosely arranged, granular tobacco formulation readily diffuse through the pouch and into the mouth of the user.
Descriptions of various components of snus types of products and components thereof also are set forth in U.S. Pat. Application 2004/0118422 to Lundin et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. See, also, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,479 to Linden; U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,899 to Nielsen; U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,734 to Wydick et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,162,516 to Derr, and U.S. Pat. Application 2005/0061339 to Hansson et al.; each of which is incorporated herein by reference. See, also, the types of pouches set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,244 to Kjerstad, which is incorporated herein by reference.
An exemplary pouch may be manufactured from materials, and in such a manner, such that during use by the user, the pouch undergoes a controlled dispersion or dissolution. Such pouch materials may have the form of a mesh, screen, perforated paper, permeable fabric, or the like. For example, pouch material manufactured from a mesh-like form of rice paper, or perforated rice paper, may dissolve in the mouth of the user. As a result, the pouch and tobacco formulation each may undergo complete dispersion within the mouth of the user during normal conditions of use, and hence the pouch and tobacco formulation both may be ingested by the user. Other exemplary pouch materials may be manufactured from water dispersible film forming materials (e.g., binding agents such as alginates, carboxymethylcellulose, xanthan gum, and the like), as well as those materials in combination with materials such as ground cellulosics (e.g., fine particle size wood pulp). Preferred pouch materials, though water dispersible or dissolvable, may be designed and manufactured in order that under conditions of normal use, a significant amount of the tobacco formulation contents permeate through the pouch material prior to the time that the pouch undergoes loss of its physical integrity. If desired, flavoring agents, disintegration aids, and other desired components, may be incorporated within, or applied to, the pouch material.
Amount of tobacco formulation contained within each pouch may vary. Typically, the dry weight of the tobacco formulation within each pouch is at least about 50 mg to at least about 150 mg. For a contemplated embodiment, the dry weight of the tobacco formulation within each pouch does not exceed about 300 mg to about 500 mg.
The following example is provided in order to illustrate further the present invention, but should not be construed as limiting the scope thereof. Unless otherwise noted, all parts and percentages are by weight.

EXAMPLE 1

Flue cured tobacco lamina that has been aged is provided in a strip form, and at a moisture content of about 9 percent. The lamina is milled under cryogenic conditions to a fine ground form. The powder is sufficiently fine so as to pass through a 150 Tyler mesh screen. The resulting powder then is irradiated with about 5 to about 20 kilorays of gamma radiation.
The tobacco powder is introduced into a fluidized bed. While in the fluidized bed, the tobacco powder is introduced to a mixture of water and various ingredients that have been provided in a dry powder form. The resulting mixture is removed from the fluidized bed, and dried to a moisture content of about 4 percent.
The resulting tobacco formulation that is removed from the fluidized bed is composed of the following: The formulation contains about 32 parts of the granulated flue-cured tobacco lamina, about 2 parts of sucralose (modified sugar), about 1 part titanium dioxide, about 20.5 parts calcium carbonate (in the form available as HD PPT Fine from Ruger Chemical), about 27.7 parts mannitol powder, about 2.3 parts powdered cellulose (in the form available as QC-90 from CreaFill Fibers), about 8.5 parts pregelatinized corn starch (in the form available as Starch 1500 from Colorcon), about 4.5 parts povidone (in the form available as PVPK-30 from Xian Medicines & Health Products), and about 1.5 parts potassium hydroxide. The moisture content of the resulting powdered tobacco formulation is about 4 percent. The tobacco formulation is a dry, free flowing, finely milled powder that is light tan in color, and is made up of particles having an average particle size sufficient to pass through a screen of about 80 Tyler mesh.
A smokeless tobacco product available as Revel Tobacco pack cinnamon by U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. is provided. That tobacco product possesses pieces of tobacco contained within a sealed pouch. The pouch is a slim, permeable, white packet that is treated with sweetener and cinnamon flavor. A small slice is cut in the pouch using a razor blade, and the tobacco within the pouch is removed through the resulting opening. About 180 mg of the previously described, finely ground, tobacco formulation is introduced into the pouch. A heating iron is briefly passed near the region of the slice, in order to cause the thermoplastic (e.g., polypropylene) components within the pouch to melt. The pouch is then allowed to cool, thereby resealing the pouch. The tobacco formulation within the sealed pouch has a loose, free-flowing, granular form. The granular tobacco formulation is not shaped, molded, compressed, or otherwise formed into any type of shape.
The tobacco product is used by placing one pouch containing the tobacco formulation in the mouth of a human subject/user. During use, saliva in the mouth of the user causes components of the tobacco formulation to pass through the water-permeable pouch and into the mouth of the human subject. The pouch is not chewed or swallowed. The contents of the pouch most preferably are virtually all dispersed from the pouch and pass into the mouth of the human subject. The user is provided with tobacco flavor and satisfaction, and is not required to spit out any portion of the tobacco formulation. After about 10 minutes of enjoyment, substantial amounts of the tobacco formulation have been ingested by the human subject, and the pouch is removed from the mouth of the human subject for disposal.
It is intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that it is the following claims, including all equivalents, that are intended to define the spirit and scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A smokeless tobacco product for insertion into the mouth of a user of that product, the product comprising:

a tobacco formulation including granular tobacco and

a water-permeable sealed pouch containing the tobacco formulation.

2. The tobacco product of claim 1 wherein the sealed pouch is soluble in water, dispersible in water, or a combination thereof.

3. The tobacco product of claim 1 wherein the pouch contains about 50 mg to about 500 mg of tobacco formulation, on a dry weight basis.

4. The tobacco product of claim 1 wherein the pouch contains about 100 mg to about 400 mg of tobacco formulation, on a dry weight basis.

5. The tobacco product of claim 1 wherein the tobacco formulation has a moisture content, prior to use, of less than about 20 weight percent.

6. The tobacco product of claim 1 wherein the tobacco formulation has a moisture content of less than about 10 weight percent.

7. The tobacco product of claim 1 wherein the tobacco formulation includes a disintegration aid.

8. The tobacco product of claim 7 wherein the disintegration aid is selected from the group consisting of microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, crospovidone, sodium starch glycolate, and pregelatinized corn starch.

9. The tobacco product of claim 1 wherein the tobacco formulation includes a buffering agent.

10. The tobacco product of claim 9 wherein the buffering agent is selected from the group consisting of metal hydroxides, metal carbonates, and metal bicarbonates.

11. The tobacco product of claim 1 wherein the tobacco formulation includes an artificial sweetener, a natural sweetener, or a combination thereof.

12. The tobacco product of claim 1, comprising a sweetener selected from the group consisting of fructose, sucrose, glucose, maltose, mannose, galactose, lactose, sucralose, saccharin, aspartame, and acesulfame K.

13. The tobacco product of claim 1 wherein the tobacco formulation includes a filler.

14. The tobacco product of claim 13 wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of grains, maltodextrin, dextrose, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, corn starch, lactose, manitol, xylitol, sorbitol, and finely divided cellulose.

15. The tobacco product of claim 1 wherein the tobacco formulation includes an antioxidant.

16. The tobacco product of claim 15 wherein the antioxidant is selected from the group consisting of ascorbic acid, grape seed extract, grape seed oil, polyphenol-containing materials, green tea extract, black tea extract, peanut endocarb, and potato peel.

17. The tobacco product of claim 1 wherein the granular tobacco is sized to pass through a screen of 20 Tyler mesh.

18. The tobacco product of claim 1 wherein the granular tobacco is sized to pass through a screen of 60 Tyler mesh.

19. The tobacco product of claim 1 wherein the granular tobacco is sized to pass through a screen of 150 Tyler mesh.

20. The tobacco product of claim 1 wherein the granular tobacco is sized to pass through a screen of 200 Tyler mesh.

21. The tobacco product of claim 1, wherein one or both of the tobacco formulation and the water-permeable sealed pouch includes at least one flavoring agent.

22. A smokeless tobacco product comprising:

a tobacco formulation including ground tobacco lamina, sucralose, titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate, mannitol, powdered cellulose, pregelatinized corn starch, povidone, and potassium hydroxide; and

a water-permeable sealed pouch containing the tobacco formulation.