Tobacco beads

Abstract

A smokeless tobacco product described herein includes at least one tobacco bead. Tobacco beads described herein include a core and at least one tobacco-containing layer surrounding the core. Each tobacco-containing layer can include less than 10 weight percent tobacco. Tobacco bead described herein can have a diameter of at least 1 millimeters. Tobacco bead described herein can have at least 5 mg tobacco. Tobacco bead described herein can have an oven volatiles content of between 2 weight percent and 10 weight percent. Tobacco bead described herein can have an outer shell.

1 . A tobacco bead comprising:
 a core; and   a tobacco-containing layer at least partially surrounding the core, the tobacco-containing layer including:
 at least 5 weight percent of tobacco, 
 at least 20 weight percent of a starch, 
 at least 25 weight percent of mannitol, and 
 at least 1 weight percent of maltodextrin. 
   
     
     
         2 . The tobacco bead of  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco-containing layer further includes:
 a flavorant,   the flavorant including licorice, wintergreen, cherry, berry type, Dramboui, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cinnamon, cardamon, caramel, apium graveolents, clove, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, honey, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, Japanese mint, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmin, chamomile, menthol, ilangilang, sage, fennel, piment, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, mint oils from a species of the genus Mentha, honey, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         3 . The tobacco bead of  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco-containing layer further includes:
 a sweetener,   the sweetener including sucrose, honey, glucose, grape sugar, corn sugar, dextrose, molasses, corn sweetener, corn syrup, fructose, lactose, maltose, sorghum syrup, sorbitol, fruit juice concentrate, saccharin, aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         4 . The tobacco bead of  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco-containing layer includes less than 15 weight percent of tobacco. 
     
     
         5 . The tobacco bead of  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco-containing layer includes less than 50 weight percent of the starch. 
     
     
         6 . The tobacco bead of  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco-containing layer includes less than 50 weight percent of mannitol. 
     
     
         7 . The tobacco bead of  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco-containing layer includes less than 20 weight percent of maltodextrin. 
     
     
         8 . The tobacco bead of  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco-containing layer further includes:
 pH adjusters, fillers, plasticizers, emulsifiers, binders, pigments, surfactant, lipids, disintegrators, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         9 . The tobacco bead of  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco-containing layer is a first tobacco-containing layer having a first dissolution rate, the starch is a first starch, and the tobacco bead further comprises:
 a second tobacco-containing layer at least partially surrounding the first tobacco-containing layer, the second tobacco-containing layer having a second dissolution rate that is different from the first dissolution rate, the second tobacco-containing layer includes:
 at least 5 weight percent of tobacco, 
 at least 20 weight percent of a second starch, 
 at least 25 weight percent of mannitol, and 
 at least 1 weight percent of maltodextrin. 
   
     
     
         10 . The tobacco bead of  claim 9 , wherein
 the first tobacco-containing layer further includes,
 a first flavorant, and 
 a first sweetener; and 
   the second tobacco-containing layer further includes,
 a second flavorant, the second flavorant being different from the first flavorant, and 
 a second sweetener, the second sweetener being different from the first sweetener. 
   
     
     
         11 . The tobacco bead of  claim 10 , wherein the tobacco bead further comprises:
 a third tobacco-containing layer at least partially surrounding the second tobacco-containing layer, the third tobacco-containing layer having a third dissolution rate that is different from the first dissolution rate, the second dissolution rate, or both the first dissolution rate and the second dissolution rate, the third tobacco-containing layer including:
 a third sweetener that is different from the first sweetener, the second sweetener, or both the first sweetener and the second sweetener; and 
 a third flavorant that is different from the first flavorant, the second flavorant, or both the first flavorant and the second flavorant. 
   
     
     
         12 . The tobacco bead of  claim 9 , wherein the second tobacco-containing layer includes:
 less than 15 weight percent of tobacco;   less than 50 weight percent of the second starch;   less than 50 weight percent of mannitol; and   less than 20 weight percent of maltodextrin.   
     
     
         13 . The tobacco bead of  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco bead has a diameter ranging from 1 millimeter to 6 millimeters. 
     
     
         14 . The tobacco bead of  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco bead includes 2 weight percent to 20 weight percent of the core. 
     
     
         15 . The tobacco bead of  claim 1 , wherein the core includes a carbohydrate, a water soluble polymer, a salt, a sugar, sodium alginate, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The tobacco bead of  claim 1 , wherein the core is free of tobacco. 
     
     
         17 . The tobacco bead of  claim 1 , wherein the core includes soluble or insoluble gels. 
     
     
         18 . The tobacco bead of  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco bead further comprises:
 an outer shell, the outer shell surrounding the tobacco-containing layer, the outer shell being configured to reduce escape of volatiles from the core and the tobacco-containing layer.   
     
     
         19 . The tobacco bead of  claim 18 , wherein the outer shell is free of tobacco. 
     
     
         20 . The tobacco bead of  claim 18 , wherein the outer shell includes carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, or any combination thereof.