EP1252830A1

EP1252830A1 - Particles for tobacco products which crackle during smoking

Info

Publication number: EP1252830A1
Application number: EP01110292A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kris De Roos; Rudolf Ringgenberger; Arthur Riedo
Original assignee: Givaudan SA
Current assignee: Givaudan SA
Priority date: 2001-04-26
Filing date: 2001-04-26
Publication date: 2002-10-30

Abstract

The present invention relates to particles for tobacco products which have the ability to generate a crackling effect similar to that of cloves when smoked in cigarettes. The particles according to the present invention comprise a crackling agent distributed in a carbohydrate matrix.

Description

The present invention relates to particles which crackle during smoking.
The formation of tar during smoking of cigarettes is a serious health risk factor. Therefore, there is a strong pressure to reduce the formation of tar during smoking. Several approaches are being used to reduce tar production and consumption during smoking. The use of cigarette filters and the development of low tar delivery smoking compositions are a few examples of solutions used to reduce tar delivery.
The use of cloves in kretek cigarettes with the well-known crackling effect generates an additional risk of tar production during smoking. Another problem associated with the use of cloves is the fluctuation in the quality and price of the natural cloves.
In EP-B 0 292 949 tobacco products comprising particles which contain flavors are disclosed. The particles are located in the filter section and not in the tobacco section of cigarettes. These particles have been used to provide a flavor but no crackling effects as in kretek cigarettes. The flavor is released by destroying the particles by application of a force to the outer surface of the filter.
WO 94/09653 discloses tobacco products comprising microorganism cells in which flavors are encapsulated. These microorganism cells release the flavors during smoking but do not provide the crackling effect of cloves in cigarettes.
It is an object of the present invention to provide particles which provide a crackling sound during burning.
It is further an object of the present invention to provide tobacco products producing less tar than tobacco products comprising natural cloves.
Surprisingly it has been found that particles for tobacco products have the ability to generate a crackling effect similar to that of cloves when smoked in cigarettes. Said particles comprise a water-insoluble or slightly water-soluble crackling agent which is distributed in a carbohydrate matrix. The expression slightly water-soluble stands within the context of the present invention for compounds which are sufficiently water-insoluble to form an oil-in-water emulsion. The water-insoluble or slightly water-soluble crackling agent is preferably selected from the group of vegetable oils, fats or other food-grade inflammable materials. Carbohydrates are defined here as polyhydroxylated compounds, many of which contain aldehydic or ketonic groups or yield such groups on hydrolysis. So, the word carbohydrates covers mono-, di-, oligo- and polysaccharides.
The tar production of tobacco products comprising the particles according to the present invention is substantially lower than the one of cloves. With these particles tar production during smoking is reduced without adversely affecting the pleasures associated with smoking of kretek cigarettes. The particles release incorporated compounds with organoleptic properties by burning during smoking.
In a preferred embodiment the particles according to the present invention have a size, shape, color and bulk density similar to that of cloves. The particles are non-hygroscopic and mechanically stable and have a size of about of between 1x5 and 2x10 mm ( width x length), similar to that of cloves.
In another preferred embodiment the particles according to the present invention additionally comprise a water-insoluble or slightly soluble compound with organoleptic properties. The water-insoluble or slightly water-soluble compound with organoleptic properties is preferably selected from the group of flavorings, fragrances other food-grade inflammable odoriferous materials.
In a preferred embodiment the carbohydrate matrix is a poly- or an oligosaccaride. The carbohydrate is preferably starch, especially native corn starch, tapioca starch or potato starch. Modified starches may be incorporated as well.
In a preferred embodiment the carbohydrate matrix additionally comprises a plasticizer such as a water-soluble polyhydroxy compound to improve the mechanical properties. Preferably the water-soluble polyhydroxy compound is glycerol, sorbitol or propylene glycol.
The particles according to the present invention may also comprise water-soluble ingredients. The water-soluble ingredient is at least one compound selected from the group of coloring materials, flavorings or fragrances. Preferably, the water-soluble ingredient is a coloring material which is able to provide a uniform brown color to the particles.
To obtain the desired crackling effect the particles according to the present invention comprise a crackling agent, such as a combustible liquid. The crackling agents are inflammable and provide the crackling effect preferably at temperatures higher than 400°C. In a preferred embodiment the crackling agent in the particles according to the present invention has organoleptic properties. Preferably the crackling agents are water-insoluble or slightly water-soluble liquid oils, preferably a flavor oil, or a flavoring dissolved in an oil. The volatility of said compounds is preferably similar to that of clove oil. Especially preferred are caryophyllene, eugenol, isopropyl myristate, limonene and essential oils, such as clove bud or clove leaf oils or mixtures thereof. Essential oils are volatile oils obtained by steam distillation of plants. Most preferred are caryophyllene and isopropyl myristate. The optimal concentration of the crackling agents depends on their properties but is in general between 1 to 20%, preferably between 2 to 10%, preferably 4 to 7% by total weight of the particles. The particles comprise a uniform dispersion of oil droplets in a homogenous starch matrix, the oil droplets comprising a water-insoluble or slightly water-soluble crackling agent. The oil droplet size may vary over a wide range in different products without affecting the crackling properties.
In a further preferred embodiment the particles according to the present invention additionally comprise an emulsifier. For example, a modified starch with emulsifying properties, such as an octenyl succinated starch, can be used advantageously to obtain a uniform dispersion of droplets in the starch matrix and to keep the amount of water-insoluble or slightly water-soluble compounds on the surface of the particles to a minimum. Accordingly, the oil is protected against oxidation and can not result in off-flavor development. Further, no spots of the oil can be caused by the oil on the paper around the cigarette. A suitable octenyl succinated starch for this purpose is for example Capsul® from National Starch.
Particles according to the present invention are preferably prepared by
a)distributing the water-insoluble or slightly water-soluble crackling agent, optionally the water-insoluble or slightly water-soluble material with organoleptic properties and optionally the emulsifier in water to form an emulsion
b)introducing the emulsion into a single or double screw extruder which contains a moderately to strongly hydrophilic thermoplastic carbohydrate matrix, optionally containing a plasticizer and/or other water soluble ingredients and thoroughly mixing the emulsion into the thermoplastic carbohydrate matrix by processing in the extruder, extruding the mixture through a die, and
c)forming particles having the desired particle size for instance by reducing the particle size of the resulting extrudate by cutting, breaking, grinding or other suitable fragmentation method and
d)optionally, drying the particles to a fixed moisture content.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the particles may be dried to a fixed moisture content of 2 to 20%, preferably 2 to 5% by weight.
The particles according to the present invention can be used to substitute cloves in various applications but in particular, in tobacco products. Tobacco products with special flavor and crackling effects comprising the particles according to the present invention are especially preferred. The particles are added to tobacco in an effective amount and the tobacco products, preferably the cigarettes are prepared from the resulting mix. Preferably, 5 to 40% by weight of the particles according to the present invention are mixed with 60% to 95% by weight of tobacco to partly or completely replace natural cloves. The shelf life of the compounds with organoleptic properties is higher than 10 years when stored in closed containers. Compared to natural cloves, the particles according to the present invention have the advantage of producing only small amounts of tar during smoking. A further advantage is that these particles have not strong quality and price fluctuations and can therefore provide a considerable cost and quality advantage.

EXAMPLE 1

First an emulsion of the inflammable oil was prepared. Capsul ® (National Starch; 360 g) was added to water (900 g) and dissolved with stirring using a high shear mixer, type Ultraturrax T50. Subsequently, eugenol (1566 g) and Tabacarome (Givaudan flavoring; 174 g) were added and the mixture homogenized for 5 minutes. The resulting o/w emulsion was then encapsulated in a starch matrix by means of an extrusion process.
The extrusion was done on Bühler twin screw lab extruder with a screw diameter of 44 mm and a length of 106 cm. Water and Flavor emulsion were added with a feeding pump. The barrel temperature was 70 to 104°C. The extrudate leaving the die had a temperature of 85-105 °C
An intimate dry mix of native corn starch (15.0 kg), glycerol (0.5 kg) and Caramel Color (E150d; 0.2 kg) was introduced into the extruder barrel at a rate of approximately 15 kg/hour. Water was added with a feeding pump via a separate entrance at a rate of 1.5 - 4.5 kg/h at about 15 cm from the begin of the barrel. At the temperature of the barrel gelatination of the starch takes place.
The emulsion was fed at a rate of 2-5 kg/h into the barrel, at a distance of 27 cm from the die which is far enough to ensure intimate mixing into the gelatinized starch prior to extrusion.
After passing the die, the extrudate was cut and dried on a fluid bed dryer for 20 minutes at 90°C. The process yielded particles of a flake like shape varying in size from 10 by 2 till 5 by 1 mm. The particles, when incorporated into cigarettes, developed a nice crackling effect by burning which is very similar to the crackling effect of sliced clove buds and clove stems.

EXAMPLE 2

Same procedure as in example 1 except for the glycerol which was added separately. So, an intimate dry mix of native corn starch (15.0 kg) and Caramel Color (E150d; 0.2 kg) was introduced into the extruder barrel at a rate of approximately 15 kg/hour. Water was added with a feeding pump at a rate of 1.5 - 4.5 kg/h at about 15 cm from the begin of the barrel followed by 1.5-2.7 g of glycerol after about 20 from the begin of the barrel.

EXAMPLE 3

Same procedure as in example 2 with the following exception: After gelatinization of the starch in the extruder, the water content of the gelatinized starch was reduced by evaporation under vacuum prior to addition of the emulsion. The vacuum was generated with the aid of a vacuum pump that was connected to the barrel at a distance of approximately 17 cm before the entrance of the emulsion.

EXAMPLE 4

Same procedure as in example 2 with the following exception: Instead of eugenol, caryophyllene was used as the crackling agent.

EXAMPLE 5

Same procedure as in example 2 with the following exception: Instead of eugenol, isopropyl myristate was used as the crackling agent.

EXAMPLE 6

Same procedure as in example 2 except for the crackling agent, which was pure eugenol instead of an emulsion of eugenol with Tabacarome in water.

EXAMPLE 7

Cigarettes of the following composition were prepared:
100% tobacco blend
62.5% tobacco blend and 37.5% cloves
62.5% tobacco blend and 37.5% of the clove replacer prepared according to example 1
The tar production from the cigarettes was determined with the aid of smoking machine. The results clearly show that the tar production from the clove replacer is much lower than from the natural cloves.

No cloves Natural cloves Clove replacer

Tobacco weight (g) 3.59 3.61 3.83

Nicotine (mg/g) 7.69 4.80 5.00

Tar (mg/g) 38.62 61.63 42.23

% Tar difference +59.55 +9.33

Claims

Particles for tobacco products which crackle during smoking,
said particles comprising a water-insoluble or slightly water-soluble crackling agent which is distributed in a carbohydrate matrix.
Particles according to claim 1, wherein the crackling agent has organoleptic properties.
Particles according to any of the preceding claims , additionally comprising a water-insoluble or slightly water soluble compound with organoleptic properties.
Particles according to any of the preceding claims , wherein the carbohydrate matrix additionally comprises a plasticizer.
Particles according to any of the preceding claims additionally comprising an emulsifier.
Particles according to any of the preceding claims additionally comprising water-soluble ingredients which are selected from the group of coloring materials, flavors and fragrances.
Particles according to any of the preceding claims that produce a crackling effect at temperatures higher than 400°C.
Particles according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the water-insoluble or slightly water-soluble crackling agent is selected from the group of flavorings, fragrances or other food-grade inflammable materials
Particles according to claim 8, wherein the flavoring, fragrance or other food-grade inflammable material is caryophyllene, eugenol, isopropyl myristate, limonene or an essential oil.
Particles according to claim 9, wherein the water-insoluble or slightly water-soluble crackling agent is caryophyllene.
Particles according to claim 9, wherein the water-insoluble or slightly water-soluble crackling agent is isopropyl myristate.
Particles according to claim 9, wherein the water-insoluble or slightly water-soluble crackling agent consists at least partly of eugenol
Particles according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the carbohydrate matrix is a poly- or an oligosaccharide.
Particles according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the plasticizer is a water-soluble polyhydroxy compound.
Process for preparing particles according to any of the preceding claims by

(a) distributing the water-insoluble or slightly water-soluble crackling agent, optionally the water-insoluble or slightly water-soluble compound with organoleptic properties and optionally the emulsifier, in water to form an emulsion

(b) thoroughly mixing said emulsion with the carbohydrate matrix which optionally contains a plasticizer and/or another water-soluble ingredient ,

(c) forming particles having the desired particle size.
Process for preparing particles according to claim 15, by additionally drying the particles to a predetermined moisture content of 2 to 20 % by weight.
Process for preparing particles according to claim 15, wherein the suspension obtained in step (a) is thoroughly mixed with the carbohydrate matrix by extrusion.
Process for preparing tobacco product by mixing particles according to claims 1 to 14 with tobacco which is used for the preparation of the tobacco products.
Tobacco products comprising particles according to claims 1 to 14.