Flavor bead and cigarette filter

Abstract

A flavor bead includes a particulate carrier, a glucan film supported by the particulate carrier, and a flavorant. The flavorant is supported by the flavor bead such that release of flavor from the flavorant is suppressed by the glucan film, but the flavor is released by the glucan film being at least partially dissolved when the glucan film contacts with tobacco mainstream smoke.

1 . A flavor bead comprising a particulate carrier, a glucan film supported by the particulate carrier, and a flavorant, wherein the flavorant is supported by the flavor bead such that release of flavor from the flavorant is suppressed by the glucan film, but the flavor is released by the glucan film being at least partially dissolved when the glucan film contacts with tobacco mainstream smoke. 
   
   
       2 . The flavor bead according to  claim 1 , wherein the particulate carrier is selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate particle, activated carbon particle, sugar crystal particle and coffee bean particle. 
   
   
       3 . The flavor bead according to  claim 1 , wherein the glucan film is composed of pullulan. 
   
   
       4 . The flavor bead according to  claim 1 , wherein the flavorant is selected from lavender, cinnamon, cardamom, celery, clove, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon, orange, mint, cinnamon, caraway, cognac, jasmine, chamomile, menthol, cassia, ylang ylang, sage, spearmint, fennel, pimento, ginger, anise, coriander, and coffee essential oils. 
   
   
       5 . The flavor bead according to  claim 1 , wherein the glucan film is formed with glucan in an amount corresponding to 0.25 to 5% of the total weight of the flavor bead. 
   
   
       6 . The flavor bead according to  claim 1 , wherein the glucan film contains the flavorant, and directly covers the surface of the particulate carrier. 
   
   
       7 . The flavor bead according to  claim 6 , wherein the flavorant is present in an amount corresponding to 20% or less of the weight of glucan. 
   
   
       8 . The flavor bead according to  claim 1 , wherein the flavorant is a solid flavorant, which forms a film directly covering the surface of the particulate carrier, and the glucan film covers the film of the solid flavorant. 
   
   
       9 . The flavor bead according to  claim 8 , wherein the solid flavorant comprises menthol. 
   
   
       10 . The flavor bead according to  claim 8 , wherein the solid flavorant film is formed with the solid flavorant in an amount corresponding to 1 to 20% by weight of the total weight of the flavor bead. 
   
   
       11 . A cigarette filter which contains a flavor bead according to  claim 1 .