Tobacco compositions

Abstract

The invention features tobacco compositions and methods of their use and manufacture. Compositions of the invention may be based on a variety of technologies. Technologies include films, tabs, shaped parts, gels, consumable units, insoluble matrices, and hollow shapes. In addition to tobacco, compositions may also contain flavors, colors, and other additives as described herein. Compositions may also be orally disintegrable. Exemplary compositions and methods of their manufacture are described herein.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A smokeless tobacco composition comprising:
 a gel format; and   a plurality of tobacco particles, the plurality of tobacco particles having an average particle size of less than or equal to about 250 μm.   
     
     
         3 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 2 , wherein the gel format comprises kappa carrageenan, sodium alginate, carboxymethyl cellulose, gelatin, pectin, agar, a starch, a sub-combination thereof, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 2 , wherein the gel format comprises a polymer. 
     
     
         5 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 4 , wherein the polymer includes carrageenan. 
     
     
         6 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 4 , wherein the polymer includes alginate. 
     
     
         7 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 4 , wherein the polymer includes carboxymethyl cellulose. 
     
     
         8 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 4 , wherein the polymer includes pectin. 
     
     
         9 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 2 , wherein the gel format comprises a cross-linking agent. 
     
     
         10 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 9 , wherein the cross-linking agent comprises a monovalent cation. 
     
     
         11 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 9 , wherein the cross-linking agent comprises a divalent cation. 
     
     
         12 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 9 , wherein the cross-linking agent comprises a trivalent cation. 
     
     
         13 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 9 , wherein the cross-linking agent comprises a divalent cation. 
     
     
         14 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a core, the gel format encapsulating the core.   
     
     
         15 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 14 , wherein the core comprises a solid. 
     
     
         16 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 14 , wherein the core comprises a liquid. 
     
     
         17 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 16 , wherein the liquid is an aqueous liquid. 
     
     
         18 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 16 , wherein the liquid is a non-aqueous liquid. 
     
     
         19 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 16 , wherein the liquid comprises ethanol, glycol, vegetable oil, mineral oil, a sub-combination thereof, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 14 , wherein the core comprises the plurality of tobacco particles. 
     
     
         21 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 14 , wherein the gel format includes a first flavor and the core includes a second flavor, the second flavor being different from the first flavor. 
     
     
         22 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 2 , wherein the gel format comprises a plurality of discrete regions, each region of the plurality of discrete regions including a flavorant, a colorant, or both a flavorant and a colorant. 
     
     
         23 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of discrete regions includes a first region and a second region, the first region is concentric to the second region. 
     
     
         24 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 2 , wherein the smokeless tobacco composition is configured to be wholly received in a mouth. 
     
     
         25 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 2 , wherein the smokeless tobacco composition is secured to a holding device, the holding device comprising at least one of wood, paper, plastic, metal, a composite, a sub-combination thereof, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         26 . A smokeless tobacco composition comprising:
 a non-solvated mixture including,
 a polymer, 
 a cross-linking agent, and 
 a plurality of tobacco particles having an average particle size of less than or equal to about 250 μm, the polymer and the cross-linking agent being configured to be solvated to form an insoluble gel. 
   
     
     
         27 . A smokeless tobacco kit comprising:
 a non-solvated mixture including,
 a polymer, 
 a cross-linking agent, and 
 a plurality of tobacco particles having an average particle size of less than or equal to about 250 μm, and 
   a mold, wherein the non-solvated mixture is configured to be solvated in the mold to form an insoluble gel in a shape of the mold.