Smokeless tobacco products

Abstract

Provided here is a smokeless tobacco product, comprising a tobacco composition and an encapsulating composition coating the tobacco composition, wherein the encapsulating composition comprises methyl salicylate, and also a method for producing the smokeless tobacco product. Further provided is a tobacco product package, comprising a casing comprising an outer rim, and a removable lid enclosing the outer rim of the casing, wherein the outer rim is coated with a coating layer comprising methyl salicylate, and also a method for producing the tobacco product package.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A smokeless tobacco product, comprising a tobacco composition and an encapsulating composition coating the tobacco composition, wherein the encapsulating composition comprises methyl salicylate. 
     
     
         2 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein the encapsulating composition comprises an external phase and an internal phase, the external phase comprising the methyl salicylate blended with a low HLB surfactant solution, and the internal phase comprising an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         3 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 2 , wherein the external phase represents 2-25 wt. % of the encapsulating composition, and wherein the internal phase represents 75-98 wt. % of the encapsulating composition. 
     
     
         4 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 2 , wherein the methyl salicylate represents 10-50 wt. % of the external phase. 
     
     
         5 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 2 , wherein the internal phase comprises at least one of a humectant and salt. 
     
     
         6 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein the encapsulating composition is substantially free of an internal phase of an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         7 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 6 , wherein the encapsulating composition comprises the methyl salicylate blended with a low HLB surfactant solution. 
     
     
         8 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 6 , wherein the methyl salicylate represents 10-50 wt. % of the encapsulating composition. 
     
     
         9 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco composition comprises a salt solution infused fermented tobacco blend. 
     
     
         10 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein the smokeless tobacco product comprises no more than 3 wt. % of methyl salicylate. 
     
     
         11 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (i) the encapsulating composition comprises an external phase representing 2-25 wt. % of the encapsulating composition and an internal phase representing 75-98 wt. % of the encapsulating composition;   (ii) the external phase comprises 10-50 wt. % of methyl salicylate blended with a low HLB surfactant solution, and the internal phase comprises an aqueous solution comprising at least one humectant;   (iii) the tobacco composition comprises a salt solution infused fermented tobacco blend; and   (iv) the smokeless tobacco product comprises no more than 3 wt. % of methyl salicylate.   
     
     
         12 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (i) the encapsulating composition comprises 10-50 wt. % of methyl salicylate blended with a low HLB surfactant solution and is substantially free of an internal phase of an aqueous solution;   (ii) the tobacco composition comprises a salt solution infused fermented tobacco blend; and   (iii) the smokeless tobacco product comprises no more than 3 wt. % of methyl salicylate.   
     
     
         13 . A method for producing a smokeless tobacco product, comprising coating a tobacco composition with an encapsulating composition comprising methyl salicylate to obtain the smokeless tobacco product. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 (i) the encapsulating composition comprises an external phase representing 2-25 wt. % of the encapsulating composition and an internal phase representing 75-98 wt. % of the encapsulating composition;   (ii) the external phase comprises 10-50 wt. % of methyl salicylate blended with a low HLB surfactant solution, and the internal phase comprises an aqueous solution comprising at least one humectant;   (iii) the tobacco composition comprises a salt solution infused fermented tobacco blend and   (iv) the smokeless tobacco product obtained comprises no more than 3 wt. % of methyl salicylate.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 (i) the encapsulating composition comprises 10-50 wt. % of methyl salicylate blended with a low HLB surfactant solution and is substantially free of an internal phase of an aqueous solution;   (ii) the tobacco composition comprises a salt solution infused fermented tobacco blend; and   (iii) the smokeless tobacco product obtained comprises no more than 3 wt. % of methyl salicylate.   
     
     
         16 . A tobacco product container, comprising
 a container body including a base portion and at least one container body side wall extending from the base portion, the base portion and the at least one container body side wall cooperating to define a tobacco storage volume therein, the at least one container body side wall including a lid engagement region;   a lid including a top portion and at least one lid side wall extending therefrom, the at least one side wall including a container body engagement region, the container body engagement region configured to selectively contact the lid engagement region; and   a coating layer comprising methyl salicylate, the coating layer positioned on at least one of the lid engagement region and the container body engagement region such that, when the lid is disengaged from the container body, the methyl salicylate is exposed to an environment outside of the tobacco storage volume.   
     
     
         17 . The tobacco product package of  claim 16 , wherein the coating layer comprises 5-90 wt. % of methyl salicylate. 
     
     
         18 . The tobacco product package of  claim 16 , wherein the coating layer comprises at least one of a humectant and salt. 
     
     
         19 . The tobacco product package of  claim 16 , wherein the coating layer releases aroma upon the disengagement of the removable lid from the container body. 
     
     
         20 . The tobacco product package of  claim 16 , further comprising tobacco product disposed within the container body, and wherein the coating layer does not contact any of the tobacco product disposed in the container body. 
     
     
         21 . The tobacco product package of  claim 16 , wherein the coating layer is positioned entirely on the lid engagement region. 
     
     
         22 . The tobacco product package of  claim 16 , wherein the coating layer is positioned entirely on the container body engagement region. 
     
     
         23 . The tobacco product package of  claim 16 , wherein the coating layer comprises the methyl salicylate blended with a low HLB surfactant solution. 
     
     
         24 . The tobacco product package of  claim 16 , wherein the coating layer is located on the lid engagement region, and wherein the lid engagement region is located on an outer surface of the at least one container body side wall. 
     
     
         25 . A method for producing a tobacco product package, comprising:
 providing a container body including a base portion and at least one container body side wall extending from the base portion, the base portion and the at least one container body side wall cooperating to define a tobacco storage volume therein, the at least one container body side wall including a lid engagement region;   providing a lid including a top portion and at least one lid side wall extending therefrom, the at least one side wall including a container body engagement region, the container body engagement region configured to selectively engage the lid engagement region; and   applying a coating layer to at least one of the lid engagement region and the container body engagement region, the coating layer comprising methyl salicylate.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the coating layer comprises 5-90 wt. % of methyl salicylate. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the coating layer further comprises at least one of a humectant and salt.