Smokeless tobacco product

Abstract

A smokeless tobacco product suitable for human consumption is prepared from powdered tobacco. In one embodiment, the product comprises powdered tobacco and from about 0.5 to about 15 wt % peppermint, from about 0.5 to about 15 wt % menthol, and from about 0.5 to about 15 wt % wintergreen. In another embodiment, the product comprises powdered tobacco and from about 0.5 to about 15 wt % peppermint, from about 0.5 to about 15 wt % menthol, and from about 0.5 to about 15 wt % spearmint. The powdered tobacco can be prepared by pulverizing cured tobacco or, alternatively, from an aqueous extract of tobacco.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A smokeless tobacco product suitable for human consumption comprising powdered tobacco and from about 0.5 to about 15 wt % peppermint, from about from about 0.5 to about 15 wt % menthol, and from about 0.5 to about 15 wt % wintergreen.  
     
     
         2 . The smokeless tobacco of  claim 1  which comprises from about 0.5 to about 10 wt % peppermint, from about from about 0.5 to about 10 wt % menthol, and from about 1 to about 10 wt % wintergreen.  
     
     
         3 . The smokeless tobacco of  claim 2  which comprises from about 1 to about 5 wt % peppermint, from about from about 1 to about 5 wt % menthol, and from about 2 to about 5 wt % wintergreen.  
     
     
         4 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 1  which is a solid bit comprising from about 10% to about 80% powdered tobacco by weight.  
     
     
         5 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 4  wherein said solid bit comprises from about 25% to about 55 wt % powdered tobacco by weight.  
     
     
         6 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 1  wherein said powdered tobacco has a collective content of N′-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), 4-(N-nitrosomethyl-amino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), N′-nitrosoanatabine (NAT) and N′-nitrosoanabasine (NAB) which is 0.3 μg/g or less.  
     
     
         7 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 6  wherein said collective content is 0.2 μg/g or less.  
     
     
         8 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 7  wherein said collective content is 0.1 μg/g or less.  
     
     
         9 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 1  wherein the powdered tobacco consists essentially of Virginia flue cured tobacco.  
     
     
         10 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 9  wherein said powdered tobacco comprises pulverized tobacco.  
     
     
         11 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 9  wherein said powdered tobacco is prepared from an extract of tobacco.  
     
     
         12 . A smokeless tobacco product suitable for human consumption comprising powdered tobacco and from about 0.5 to about 15 wt % peppermint, from about 0.5 to about 15 wt % menthol, and from about 0.5 to about 15 wt % spearmint.  
     
     
         13 . The smokeless tobacco of  claim 12  which comprises from about 0.5 to about 10 wt % peppermint, from about from about 0.5 to about 10 wt % menthol, and from about 0.5 to about 10 wt % spearmint.  
     
     
         14 . The smokeless tobacco of  claim 13  which comprises from about 1 to about 5 wt % peppermint, from about from about 1 to about 5 wt % menthol, and from about 1 to about 5 wt % spearmint.  
     
     
         15 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 12  which is a solid bit comprising from about 10% to about 80% powdered tobacco by weight.  
     
     
         16 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 15  wherein said solid bit comprises from about 25% to about 55 wt % powdered tobacco by weight.  
     
     
         17 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 12  wherein said powdered tobacco has a collective content of N′-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), 4-(N-nitrosomethyl-amino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), N′-nitrosoanatabine (NAT) and N′-nitrosoanabasine (NAB) which is 0.3 μg/g or less.  
     
     
         18 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 17  wherein said collective content is 0.2 μg/g or less.  
     
     
         19 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 18  wherein said collective content is 0.1 μg/g or less.  
     
     
         20 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 12  wherein the powdered tobacco consists essentially of Virginia flue cured tobacco.  
     
     
         21 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 20  wherein said powdered tobacco comprises pulverized tobacco.  
     
     
         22 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 20  wherein said powdered tobacco is prepared from an extract of tobacco.