Tobacco products and processes

Abstract

A tobacco product incorporates at least one anthocyanin compound or derivative thereof. Anthocyanin compounds can be incorporated into the filter element or other components of a mouth end piece of a cigarette. The tobacco product also can have a smokeless form, and can be a smokeless tobacco product characterized as “snus;” and within that smokeless tobacco composition or formulation is incorporated anthocyanin compounds. Tobacco in green or yellow form can be cured by first placing that tobacco in intimate contact with at least one sugar and/or salt, and subjecting that tobacco to curing conditions.

1 . A tobacco product incorporating an exogenous amount of at least one anthocyanin-type compound. 
   
   
       2 . The tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein said exogenous amount of said at least one anthocyanin-type compound is at least 1-3 percent of the dry weight of tobacco in said tobacco product. 
   
   
       3 . The tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein said exogenous amount of said at least one anthocyanin-type compound is at least 3-5 percent of the dry weight of tobacco in said tobacco product. 
   
   
       4 . The tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein said exogenous amount of said at least one anthocyanin-type compound is at least about 5 percent of the dry weight of tobacco in said tobacco product. 
   
   
       5 . The tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein a user of said tobacco product is exposed to less than about 1000 mg of said anthocyanin-type compound over a 24 hour period. 
   
   
       6 . The tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein a user of said tobacco product is exposed to less than about 500 mg of said anthocyanin-type compound over a 24 hour period. 
   
   
       7 . The tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein a user of said tobacco product is exposed to less than about 300 mg of said anthocyanin-type compound over a 24 hour period. 
   
   
       8 . The tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein a user of said tobacco product is exposed to less than about 200 mg of said anthocyanin-type compound over a 24 hour period. 
   
   
       9 . The tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein a user of said tobacco product is exposed to at least about 0.5 mg of said anthocyanin-type compound in each portion of said tobacco product. 
   
   
       10 . The tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein a user of said tobacco product is exposed to at least about 1.0 mg of said anthocyanin-type compound in each portion of said tobacco product. 
   
   
       11 . The tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein a user of said tobacco product is exposed to at least about 5.0 mg of said anthocyanin-type compound in each portion of said tobacco product. 
   
   
       12 . A tobacco product configured for insertion into the mouth of a user of that product, the tobacco product comprising:
 a water-permeable pouch containing a tobacco formulation, the tobacco formulation including a granular tobacco composition and an exogenous amount of an anthocyanin-type compound.   
   
   
       13 . A tobacco product configured for insertion into the mouth of a user of that product, the tobacco product comprising:
 a tobacco formulation including a granular tobacco composition enclosed within a water-permeable pouch, wherein said water-permeable pouch has been reacted with an anthocyanin-type compound.   
   
   
       14 . A tobacco product configured for insertion into the mouth of a user of that product, the tobacco product comprising:
 a tobacco formulation including a granular tobacco composition enclosed within a water-permeable pouch, wherein said water-permeable pouch is coated with an anthocyanin-type compound.   
   
   
       15 . A method of curing tobacco, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a tobacco material;   contacting the surface of said tobacco material with an amount of a curing additive comprising an amount of at least one sugar; and   curing the tobacco material under conditions of temperature and for a time sufficient to produce cured tobacco.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said curing additive further comprises an amount of at least one salt. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said amount of sugar is sufficient to interact chemically with said tobacco. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said sugar is selected from the group comprising sucrose, fructose, glucose, rhamnose, xylose, maltose or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said salt is selected from the group comprising sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, ammonium chloride or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said sugar is in the form of a syrup. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said sugar is in the form of an aqueous solution. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said salt is in the form of an aqueous solution. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the ratio of said salt to said sugar is about 9 to 1. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the ratio of said salt to said sugar is about 3 to 1. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the ratio of said salt to said sugar is about 1 to 1. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the ratio of said salt to said sugar is about 1 to 9. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the ratio of said salt to said sugar is about 1 to 3. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said amount of said curing additive is at least about 5 percent of the dry weight of said tobacco. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said amount of said curing additive is at least about 10 percent of the dry weight of said tobacco. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said amount of said curing additive does not exceed about 20 percent of the dry weight of said tobacco. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said amount of said curing additive does not exceed about 10 percent of the dry weight of said tobacco. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of separating at least a portion of said curing additive from said cured tobacco. 
   
   
       33 . A method of curing tobacco, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a tobacco material;   contacting the surface of said tobacco material with an amount of a mixture of at least one sugar and at least one salt; and   curing the tobacco material under conditions of temperature and for a time sufficient to produce cured tobacco.   
   
   
       34 . A tobacco product incorporating tobacco flowers. 
   
   
       35 . A tobacco product incorporating at least one chemical compound isolated from tobacco flowers. 
   
   
       36 . A tobacco product incorporating at least one artificially synthesized chemical compound found in tobacco flowers.