Tobacco-containing article

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a tobacco-containing article and to a method of manufacturing a tobacco-containing article.

[0002] Tobacco-containing articles, like cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars or fine-cut products for self-made cigarettes and snus products, are often aromatised by means of flavourants, as e.g. menthol. Generally, such flavourants provide an intense flavour and are added in relatively small amounts, preferably as a liquid, e.g. during the preparation and saucing of the tobacco.

[0003] A disadvantage of this kind of conventional flavouring is the volatility and tendency to loss of many flavourants.

[0004] It is also known to insert at least one flavour capsule into a tobacco-containing article, which can be broken by the consumer in order to release on demand the flavourant contained in the capsule. In this way, it is possible to use volatile flavourants, but the tobacco-containing article in question is more expensive.

[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide a tobacco-containing article which can offer to the consumer new taste and flavour experiences but, nevertheless, involves moderate manufacturing expenses only.

[0006] This object is achieved by a tobacco-containing article having the features of claim 1. Claim 18 relates to a method of manufacturing such a tobacco-containing article. Advantageous versions of the invention follow from the dependant claims.

[0007] The tobacco-containing article according to the invention comprises tobacco and aromatic plant parts which do not derive from the tobacco plant. The amount of the aromatic plant parts is in the range of from 0.5% by weight to 25% by weight, related to the total weight of the tobacco and the aromatic plant parts.

[0008] In advantageous embodiments of the invention, the aromatic plant parts have a size in the range of from 0.1 mm to 10 mm or in the range of from 0.2 mm to 6 mm. The size of the aromatic plant parts is defined by a screening method, which is described in detail further below. Shortly, the aromatic plant parts are submitted to a series of vibrating screens according to DIN ISO 3310-1 having generally square meshes of decreasing sizes. If the aromatic plant parts have a size in a given range, virtually all of them will pass a screen having the upper limit of the range as the nominal mesh size, whereas the aromatic plant parts will not pass a screen having the lower limit of the range as the nominal mesh size. Aromatic plant parts passing a mesh diagonally may have a greater length than the nominal mesh size, but they are included by definition. On the other hand, the material used for the aromatic plant parts may include some dust which even passes the smallest mesh size. This dust, by definition, is considered as not being a constituent of the aromatic plant parts. Its contribution is generally small. For a given advantageous embodiment, the total size range of the aromatic plant parts is embedded in one of the above ranges, but may have a smaller or even much smaller extension (spread of sizes). All lower limits of greater than 0.1 mm and all upper limits of less than 10 mm of such spread are expressly disclosed herewith.

[0009] The amount of the aromatic plant parts is provided as a weight related to the total weight of the tobacco and the aromatic plant parts. Therefore, any major dependency on the actual moisture of the aromatic plant parts or of the tobacco cancels out. In case the amount of the aromatic plant parts is to be measured with a high precision, the weight ratio shall be determined after equilibration of the aromatic plant parts and of the tobacco for 2 days at 22°C and at a relative humidity of 58-60%.

[0010] The tobacco-containing article according to the invention is an aromatised tobacco product, in which the aromatic plant parts are natural constituents and not artificial or concentrated aromas. This provides for a natural, maybe somewhat subliminal taste experience. The addition of artificial flavours, which otherwise would have to be added as alcoholic extracts, is not required, thus avoiding alcoholic constituents. Generally, the relative amount of the aromatic plant parts is greater than that of a conventional concentrated aroma substance, but not so great as to provide an obtrusive taste.

[0011] Since the aromatic plant parts are relatively large, e.g. in the range of from 0.1 mm to 10 mm or from 0.2 mm to 6 mm, they generally contain material in addition to any flavourants, e.g. in a plant cell structure, which is able to keep the flavourants and to reduce flavour loosening effects. This may result in a slightly increased flavour shelf life of the respective tobacco-containing article, compared to a conventional tobacco-containing article treated with a liquid aroma concentrate.

[0012] Due to the presence of a significant amount of aromatic plant parts in addition to the tobacco, the relative amount of tobacco is smaller than in a conventional tobacco product. In a cigarette, cigarillo or cigar, this results in a dilution effect regarding tobacco nicotine and other constituents as, e.g., ammonia or nitrate. Examples are provided further below. When the pH is increased because of the aromatic plant parts, the taste is generally stronger, although less nicotine is present.

[0013] The aroma of the side-stream smoke of, e.g., a cigarette can also be positively influenced and optimised, depending on the selection of the aromatic plant parts.

[0014] The visual appearance of the aromatic plant parts, which in many applications are leaves or leaf parts, implies a natural product and a natural aromatisation. The tobacco-containing article in question can generate a pleasant smell, even before consumption.

[0015] In advantageous embodiments of the tobacco-containing article according to the invention, the aromatic plant parts comprise herbs, teas, spearmint, peppermint, anise, sage, rosemary, wintergreen, avocado, ground coffee beans, or any mixtures thereof. For example, spearmint or peppermint causes a pleasant aroma. A detailed (but not exclusive) list of plants delivering suitable aromatic plant parts is given further below.

[0016] In the tobacco-containing article, at least part of the tobacco and of the aromatic plant parts can be included in a combined mixture. That means, e.g. cut tobacco parts and aromatic plant parts (e.g., in the size range of from 0.2 mm to 6 mm or of from 0.1 mm to 10 mm) are mixed together to form a combined and preferably generally homogeneous mixture.

[0017] It is also possible that at least part of the tobacco comprises reconstituted tobacco. Sheets of reconstituted tobacco can be cut to form cut reconstituted tobacco, which can be mixed, e.g., with aromatic plant parts and also with natural cut tobacco.

[0018] Moreover, it is conceivable to make a reconstituted product from aromatic plant parts, e.g. in a way similar to one of the known processes of manufacturing reconstituted tobacco, so that at least part of the aromatic plant parts in the tobacco-containing article comprises a reconstituted product. A sheet of this reconstituted product can be cut to the desired size of the aromatic plant parts, e.g., in the range of from 0.2 mm to 6 mm or of from 0.1 mm to 10 mm.

[0019] In another embodiment, a reconstituted product is used which contains a mixture of tobacco parts and of aromatic plant parts. Such reconstituted product can also be produced in a manner analogous to conventional reconstituted tobacco. In this way, at least part of the tobacco and at least part of the aromatic plant parts are included in a combined reconstituted product, which can be cut to the desired size.

[0020] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least part of the aromatic plant parts is provided in the form of granules, preferably of a size in the range of from 0.2 mm to 5 mm or from 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm. Such granules can be made of pressed aromatic plant parts and optionally additional water, without further additives. Granules comprising aromatic plant parts as well as tobacco are also conceivable.

[0021] In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the tobacco-containing article includes a cut top-loaded sheet product, in which a base layer comprises or is made of reconstituted tobacco, wherein the base layer is provided on one side with aromatic plant parts. WO 03/082030 A discloses a method of manufacturing a top-loaded sheet product, in this case a top-loaded cigarette filler, in which a base layer on a basis of a fine fraction of tobacco and cellulose fibres is provided on one side with a fraction of course tobacco, wherein the assembly is subjected to a drying treatment. In an analogous manner, a base layer comprising reconstituted tobacco can be provided on one side with aromatic plant parts, and after drying this top-loaded sheet product is cut to pieces of the desired size.

[0022] It is also conceivable that the tobacco-containing article includes a cut top-loaded sheet product, in which a base layer comprises reconstituted aromatic plant parts, wherein the base layer is provided on one side with aromatic plant parts. This cut top-loaded sheet product constitutes at least part of the aromatic plant parts. It can be mixed with tobacco and/or reconstituted tobacco and optionally with additional aromatic plant parts.

[0023] If the aromatic plant parts are included in a reconstituted sheet product, the size of the aromatic plant parts in the range of from 0.1 mm to 10 mm or of from 0.2 mm to 6 mm is to be understood as the size of the aromatic plant part pieces used in the manufacturing process of the reconstituted sheet product. A reconstituted product is produced as generally known in the art.

[0024] In case the amount of natural aromas present in the aromatic plant parts is not sufficient for a specific design of a tobacco-containing article, at least one flavourant in addition to the aromatic plant parts can be added, preferably as a liquid. An example is the addition of menthol to achieve a super-aromatisation.

[0025] Typically, the aromatic plant parts can have a moisture of from 5% to 35%, preferably of from 5% to 20% or of from 7% to 12%, related to the total of the dry weight of the respective aromatic plant parts plus the moisture. After admixture to tobacco, moisture generally equilibrates between the aromatic plant parts and the tobacco, e.g. within a closed packaging. Cigarettes typically have a moisture of from 7% to 14%, snus in the order of 35%.

[0026] Concerning the tobacco in the tobacco-containing article, all kinds of conventional tobaccos and tobacco blends, optionally including reconstituted tobacco, can be used. Examples are an American blend or a Virginia blend.

[0027] The tobacco-containing article according to the invention can be provided as a cigarette, e.g., as a full-flavour cigarette having a tar level depending on regulatory ceilings, as a light cigarette having a tar level of up to 7 mg or as an ultralight cigarette having a tar level of up to 2 mg, or as a cigarillo or as a cigar.

[0028] In different embodiments, the tobacco-containing article is provided in the form of pipe tobacco or in the form of fine-cut for self-made cigarettes, packaged in a suitable enclosure. Self-made cigarettes are known as "RYO" (roll-your-own), which means that the consumer takes a portion of fine-cut comprising tobacco and aromatic plant parts from a package, puts it on a cigarette paper (optionally with an additional filter), rolls the cigarette paper about the fine-cut and glues the seam of the cigarette paper. Another type of self-made cigarettes is "MYO" (make-your-own), wherein fine-cut is taken from a package and filled into some apparatus which, upon operation by the consumer; automatically or semi-automatically forms a finished smoking article.

[0029] The tobacco-containing article according to the invention can also be provided in the form of snus, a product consumed by placing it under the lip for some period of time. Preferably, the snus comprising tobacco and aromatic plant parts is prepared in a grinded and sieved form. The snus parts can have a size range of, e.g. , from 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm or from 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm.

[0030] In many applications, including embodiments already explained above, the tobacco-containing article comprises cut tobacco and/or cut sheet products. Generally, the cut width of the tobacco or the respective sheet product can be that of cut tobacco in conventional tobacco-containing articles, e.g., 0.2 mm to 0.75 mm for fine cut tobacco, greater than 1.5 mm for pipe tobacco, or 0.6 mm to 0.9 mm for typical cigarettes. Such widths can also be suitable to the aromatic plant parts, when used in cut leaf form or cut sheet form.

[0031] In an advantageous method of manufacturing a tobacco-containing article according to the invention, after cutting tobacco, aromatic plant parts, which do not derive from the tobacco plant and which have a size in the desired range, e.g., in the range of from 0.1 mm to 10 mm or in the range of from 0.2 mm to 6 mm, are added to the tobacco in an amount in the range of from 0.5% by weight to 25% by weight, related to the total weight of the tobacco and the aromatic plant parts. That means that the tobacco or at least part of the tobacco is cut independently of the aromatic plant parts. Generally, it is conceivable that uncut, large aromatic plant parts are already added to tobacco parts like leaves, ribs or stems or to a reconstituted tobacco sheet before the cutting step is performed. It is advantageous, however, when the aromatic plant parts are admixed relatively late in the process because they might release a strong aroma which tends to contaminate the manufacturing equipment.

[0032] For example, aromatic plant parts (preferably cut ones) can be added during treatment of the cut tobacco, e.g., during blending or flavouring.

[0033] In the following, the invention is described in more detail, also by means of examples.

Screening method

[0034] In order to define reproducible sizes of the aromatic plant parts, a screening method is used. This method is performed in analogy to DIN V 10376 of February 2005 ("Analysis of tobacco and tobacco products - Determination of size of the fillers of cigars and cigarillos by means of sieve analysis").

[0035] To this end, the aromatic plant parts to be examined are moisture-conditioned at a relative humidity of (70 ± 2)% and at a temperature of (22 ± 1) °C for 48 h. If the particles were too dry, they would break during sieving, which would deliver erroneous results.

[0036] The moisture-conditioned aromatic plant parts are submitted to a stack of vibrating screens according to DIN ISO 3310-1 having meshes of decreasing sizes. If the aromatic plant parts have a size distribution in a given range, virtually all of them will pass a screen having the upper limit of the range as the nominal mesh size, whereas the aromatic plant parts will not pass a screen having the lower limit of the range as the nominal mesh size. Individual aromatic plant parts passing a mesh diagonally may have a greater length than the nominal mesh size, but they are included by definition. On the other hand, the material used for the aromatic plant parts may include some dust which even passes the smallest mesh size. This dust, by definition, is considered as not being a constituent of the aromatic plant parts. Its contribution is generally small.

[0037] Further details of the method follow from DIN V 10376. As already mentioned, the present screening method is performed in analogy thereto, with the following differences.

[0038] For screening leaves, the screening machine performs horizontal vibrations of 15 mm with a frequency of 270/min for 5 minutes (instead of 10 minutes). Mesh sizes of 1.18 mm, 2.36 mm and 4 mm are used. For screening granulates, the screening machine runs for 1 minute, and mesh sizes of 1.6 mm, 1.4 mm, 1.2 mm, 1.0 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.25 mm and 0 mm are used.

[0039] If a size distribution is to be determined with a higher accuracy, a stack of several screens can be used. In case the number of screens exceeds the capability of the screening machine, the size distribution can be determined sequentially.

Examples for aromatic plant parts

[0040] Generally, a large variety of plant species can be used as sources for the aromatic plant parts according to the invention. Herbs and teas in general, and more specific spearmint, peppermint, anise, sage, rosemary, wintergreen, avocado, and ground coffee beans have already been mentioned above. Depending on the plant species, the appropriate plant parts may derive from leaves, blossoms, fruits, roots, bark, etc. Mixtures of aromatic plant parts from different species are conceivable as well.

[0041] The following Table 1 includes a plurality of plant species which may be particularly useful for the purposes of the invention:

Table 1 Examples for plant species as source for aromatic plant parts

English Name	Latin Name
Apple	Malus sylvestris
Bearberry	Arctostaphylos uva ursi
Black current (folia)	Ribes nigrum
Cinnamon (cortex)	Cinnamomum spec.
Coltsfoot	Tussilago farfara
Damask rose (flores)	Rosa centifolia
Damiana leaves (folia)	Turnera diffusa
Dandelion blooms	Taraxacum officinalis
Elder (flores)	Sambucus nigra
Eucalyptus	Eucalyptus globulus
German chamomile (flores)	Matricaria chamomilla
Gingko biloba	Gingko biloba
Hazelnut	Corylus avellana
Honeysuckle	Loni cera spec.
Hop blooms (glandulae)	Humulus lupulus
Jasmine (flores)	Jasminum officinale
Lady's mantle	Alchemilla vulgaris
Lavender (flores)	Lavandula officinalis
Marshmallow herb (folia)	Althaeae officinalis
Maté tea (folia)	Ilex paraguariensis
Melissa (folia)	Melissa officinalis
Mint leaves	Mentha crispata
Mullein (folia)	Verbascum densiflorum
Orange blossom (flores)	Citrus aurantium
Papaya	Carica papaya
Passionflower (herba)	Passiflora incarnata
Peppermint	Mentha piperita
Red clover (flores)	Trifolium pratense
Red willow	Cornus amomum
Robinia blossom (flores)	Robinia pseudoacacia
Rose petals	Rosa spec.
Rosemary (folia)	Rosmarinus officinalis
Sage	Salvia officinalis, S. triloba
Sculicap	Scutellaria spec.
Spearmint	Mentha spicata
Summer savory (herba)	Satureja hortensis
Teas	e.g., from Camellia sinensis
Valerian root (radix)	Valeriana officinalis
Vervain (herba)	Verbena odorata
Wine leaves	Vitis vinifera
Yerba buena	Clinopodium douglasii
Yerba santa	Eriodictyon californica

Example 1: Spearmint

[0042] Spearmint (Mentha spicata) contains some (but not much) menthol, as well as carvone, pulegone, limonene and esters.

[0043] After equilibration at 22 °C and 60% relative humidity, a sample of spearmint leaves had a relative moisture of 10.0%. Here and in the following, all relative moisture contents are related to the total of the dry weight (determined after oven treatment at 82 °C for 3 h; "Horo" method) and the moisture.

[0044] From this sample, a mixture with American blend tobacco was prepared, which contained 10% by weight of spearmint leaves and 90% by weight of tobacco. After equilibration at 30°C and 75% relative humidity, the mixture had a relative moisture of 18.5%. Under the same equilibration conditions, the pure tobacco had a relative moisture of 19.1% and the pure spearmint sample a relative moisture of 13.7%.

[0045] The size distribution of the leaves of two different samples of spearmint leaves was determined by means of the screening method described above, using mesh sizes of 1.18 mm, 2.36 mm and 4 mm. In the first sample, about 2.6% by weight of the leaves did not pass the 4 mm mesh screen, about 27.3% by weight did not pass the 2.36 mm mesh screen, about 57.2% by weight did not pass the 1.18 mm mesh screen, and about 12.9% by weight passed the 1.18 mm mesh screen, the peak size being slightly more than 1.18 mm. In the second sample, the corresponding numbers were 10.2%, 63.1%, 24.8% and 2.0%, respectively, and the peak was at a leaf size of about 2 mm.

Example 2: Peppermint

[0046] Peppermint (Mentha piperita) contains menthol, menthone, cineol, tanning agents and flavonoids.

[0047] A sample of granulated peppermint, after equilibration at 22 °C and 60% relative humidity, had a relative moisture of 8.6%.

[0048] The size distribution of the granules of this sample was determined by the screening method described above. Table 2 presents the fraction of the total sample of 402.34 g retained by a screen of a given mesh size (mesh sizes of 1.6 mm, 1.4 mm, 1.2 mm, 1.0 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.25 mm and 0 mm).

Table 2 Size distribution in a sample of granulated peppermint

Mesh size [mm]	Retained mass [g]	Fraction [%]
1.6	0.05	0.01
1.4	0.35	0.09
1.2	19.79	4.92
1.0	67.75	16.84
0.8	98.50	24.48
0.5	163.15	40.55
0.25	51.20	12.73
0	1.55	0.39
	402.34	100.00

[0049] Table 2 shows that essentially all of the granules have a size in the range of from 0.25 mm to 1.2 mm. The contribution of the particles passing the 0.25 mm mesh (dust) is negligible. The distribution peaks at about 0.5 mm.

Example 3: Spearmint, peppermint

[0050] As Example 3, two other samples of spearmint and peppermint were investigated. In both samples, the aromatic plant parts had a granular form. After equilibration at 22 °C and 60% relative humidity, the spearmint sample had a relative moisture of 7.5% and the peppermint sample of 8.5%.

[0051] The size distributions of the granules, obtained as described above, are shown in Table 3.

Table 3 Size distributions in a sample of granulated spearmint and in a sample of granulated peppermint

Mesh size [mm]	Spearmint	Peppermint
	Fraction [%]	Fraction [%]
1.6	0.04	0.02
1.4	0.02	0.08
1.2	0.12	0.28
1.0	10.00	15.56
-0.8	43.78	39.94
0.5	43.69	41.06
0.25	2.31	3.04
0	0.04	0.04
	100.00	100.00

[0052] In both samples, the granules essentially have sizes in the range of from 0.25 mm to 1.2 mm, peaking somewhere between 0.5 mm and 0.8 mm.

Example 4: Mixture of tobacco and spearmint

[0053] In Example 4, one of the spearmint samples of Example 1 (that with the peak size of about 2 mm) was used to prepare virtually homogeneous mixtures of spearmint leaves and American blend tobacco. From mixtures containing 2%, 5%, 10% and 20% spearmint by weight (related to the total weight of spearmint and tobacco; designated by MS1, MS2, MS3, and MS4, respectively), filter cigarettes of 7.8 mm diameter with a cellulose acetate filter plug of 21 mm length and a tobacco/spearmint rod of 62 mm length were made. Some constituents of the tobacco/spearmint mixtures were analyzed. Moreover, properties of the cigarettes including smoke data (according to DIN ISO 4387/A) were measured. The results for the samples MS1, MS2, MS3, and MS4 as well as for a control sample CS (American blend tobacco without spearmint) are summarised in Table 4. The abbreviations used in Table 4 are explained at the end of Table 5 below.

[0054] It is evident from Table 4 that the tobacco nicotine (i.e. the relative amount of nicotine in the mixture of tobacco and spearmint) decreases with increasing amount of spearmint in the mixture. There is also the tendency that smoke nicotine decreases when the contribution of spearmint increases.

[0055] Moreover, with increasing amount of spearmint, the hardness of the cigarette decreases somewhat (not shown in Table 4).

Table 4 Data for cigarettes made from mixtures of American blend tobacco and spearmint

Sample		CS	MS1	MS2	MS3	MS4
Physical Data	Units
Blend		AB	AB + 2% mint	AB + 5% mint	AB + 10% mint	AB + 20% mint
Format	mm	7.8 x (62+21)	7.8 x (62+21)	7.8 x (62+21)	7.8 x (62+21)	7.8 x (62+21)
Cigarette weight	mg	844	845	847	842	825
Oven Horo moisture	%	12.0	12.1	11.9	11.7	11.4
Diameter	mm	7.80	7.80	7.82	7.83	7.83
Pressure drop filter	mmWG	67.9	67.9	68.5	68.9	67.9
Pressure drop open Pdo*	mmWG	82	80	79	81	82
Press. drop closed Pdc**	mmWG	129	124	123	126	129
Ventilation	%	46.1	46.7	47.0	46.8	46.1
Tobacco Data	Units
Tobacco nicotine	% d.b.	2.30	2.29	2.19	1.98	1.80
Ammonia	% d.b.	0.17	0.17	0.17	0.16	0.15
Nitrate	% d.b.	1.02	1.09	0.99	0.94	0.92
Chloride	% d.b.	0.77	0.81	0.77	0.80	0.77
Sacchrose (HPLC)	% d.b.	1.6	1.7	1.7	1.7	1.8
Glucose (HPLC)	% d.b.	2.9	2.8	2.6	2.6	2.4
Fructose (HPLC)	% d.b.	4.2	4.2	3.9	3.9	3.6
Ash	% d.b.	15.6	15.6	15.5	15.5	15.1
Tobacco pH		5.43	5.40	5.47	5.53	5.60
Acid equivalents	***	11.7	11.5	10.9	10.0	9.0
Propylene glycol	% d.b.	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.1	0.9
Smoke Data (DIN ISO 4387/A)	Units
Smoke nicotine	mg/Cig.	0.65	0.65	0.64	0.63	0.58
WTPM	mg/Cig.	8.0	8.0	8.0	8.1	8.0
NFDPM	mg/Cig.	6.5	6.5	6.6	6.8	6.6
Puff number		7.3	7.3	7.3	7.3	7.0
CO	mg/Cig.	7.2	6.9	6.9	7.4	7.1

Table 5 Data for cigarettes made from mixtures of American blend tobacco and black tea

Sample		CS	TS1	TS2	TS3	TS4
Physical Data	Units
Blend		AB	AB + 2% black tea	AB + 5% black tea	AB + 10% black tea	AB + 20% black tea
Format	mm	7.8 x (62+21)	7.8 x (62+21)	7.8 x (62+21)	7.8 x (62+21)	7.8 x (62+21)
Cigarette weight	mg	844	847	846	847	842
Oven Horo moisture	%	12.0	11.8	11.7	11.5	10.9
Pressure drop open Pdo*	mmWG	82	79	79	78	75
Press. drop closed Pdc**	mmWG	129	125	122	119	111
Ventilation	%	46.1	47.3	46.7	45.9	44.6
Tobacco Data	Units
Tobacco nicotine	% d.b.	2.30	2.20	2.24	2.11	1.89
Ammonia	% d.b.	0.17	0.17	0.16	0.16	0.15
Nitrate	% d.b.	1.02	1.02	1.13	0.96	0.95
Chloride	% d.b.	0.77	0.76	0.75	0.70	0.68
Sacchrose (HPLC)	% d.b.	1.6	1.7	1.7	1.6	1.5
Glucose (HPLC)	% d.b.	2.9	2.6	2.6	2.7	2.4
Fructose (HPLC)	% d.b.	4.2	3.9	3.9	3.9	3.5
Tobacco pH		5.43	5.47	5.48	5.46	5.45
Acid equivalents	***	11.3	11.3	11.0	11.0	10.5
Propylene glycol	% d.b.	1.1	1.1	1.2	1.1	0.9
Smoke Data (DIN ISO 4387/A)	Units
Smoke nicotine	mg/Cig.	0.65	0.63	0.65	0.68	0.70
WTPM	mg/Cig.	8.0	8.1	8.2	8.4	9.1
NFDPM	mg/Cig.	6.5	6.7	6.8	7.1	7.7
Puff number		7.3	7.2	7.3	7.4	7.6
CO	mg/Cig.	7.2	7.1	6.9	7.0	6.9

Explanations to Tables 4 and 5

[0056] 

CS:

Control sample

MS1-MS4:

Spearmint samples 1-4

TS1-TS4:

Black tea samples

Cigarette format:

Standard King Size Cigarette with a cigarette paper of 60 Coresta

*

Pressure drop measured with open filter wrapper perforation

**

Pressure drop measured with closed filter wrapper perforation

***

in mg KOH/g tobacco d.b.

AB:

American Blend

d.b.:

dry base

mmWG:

millimeter Water Gauge (ISO 10185)

HPLC:

High Performance Liquid Chromatography

WTPM:

Wet Total Particulate Matter (ISO 10185)

NFDPM:

Nicotine Free Dry Particulate Matter (ISO 10185)

Cig.:

Cigarette

Example 5: Mixture of tobacco and black tea

[0057] In Example 5, virtually homogeneous mixtures of American blend tobacco and black tea (loose leaves) were prepared. From mixtures containing 2%, 5%, 10% and 20% black tea by weight (related to the total weight of black tea and tobacco; designated by TS1, TS2, TS3, and TS4, respectively), filter cigarettes of 7.8 mm diameter with a cellulose acetate filter plug of 21 mm length and a tobacco/black tea rod of 62 mm length were made. Some constituents of the tobacco/black tea mixtures were analyzed. Moreover, properties of the cigarettes including smoke data (according to DIN ISO 4387/A) were measured. The results for the samples TS1, TS2, TS3, and TS4 as well as for a control sample CS (American blend tobacco without black tea) are summarised in Table 5. The abbreviations used in Table 5 are explained at the end of the table.

[0058] Table 5 shows that the tobacco nicotine (i.e. the relative amount of nicotine in the mixture of tobacco and black tea) decreases with increasing amount of black tea in the mixture.

Example 6: Storage behaviour

[0059] The relative losses of flavour constituents from filter cigarettes made from mixtures of American blend tobacco and spearmint according to Example 4 were investigated. To this end, cigarette boxes containing cigarettes comprising the mixtures MS1 and MS3 were stored for six months under different conditions, i.e. as a closed box in a refrigerator, as a closed box at room temperature and as an opened box at room temperature. Spearmint aroma constituents were determined by gas chromatography before and after six months of storage.

[0060] Table 6 shows, for both mixtures MS1 and MS3, averages of the absolute amounts of the spearmint aroma constituents before storage and of the relative losses (related to the initial amounts) after six months of storage.

Table 6 Aroma constituents in cigarettes containing American blend tobacco and spearmint according to Example 4, initially and relative loss after 6 months of storage

Spearmint constituent	Initial amount µg/Cig.	6 m. refrig. clos. loss%	6 m. room clos. loss%	6 m. room open loss%	Initial amount µg/Cig.	6 m. refrig. clos. loss%	6 m. room clos. loss%	6 m. room open loss%
	MS1				MS3
Pulegone	23.7	16.5	18.3	43.0	150.0	19.2	13.6	41.2
Carvone	103.1	24.8	22.0	31.0	555.6	23.8	18.1	45.6

The results in Table 6 exhibit the following trends: The relative losses of spearmint constituents from closed boxes stored at room temperature and from closed boxes stored in a refrigerator are similar. In case of opened packs stored at room temperature, the relative losses are significantly higher. For cigarettes with a greater spearmint contribution, the relative losses tend to be somewhat higher. Moreover, migration of the spearmint constituents during the storage period resulted in some aroma accumulation in the cigarette filters (data not shown in Table 6).

Claims

1. Tobacco-containing article, comprising

- tobacco and

- aromatic plant parts, which do not derive from the tobacco plant,

- wherein the amount of the aromatic plant parts is in the range of from 0.5% by weight to 25% by weight, related to the total weight of the tobacco and the aromatic plant parts.

2. Tobacco-containing article according to claim 1, characterised in that the aromatic plant parts have a size, defined by a screening method, in the range of from 0.1 mm to 10 mm.

3. Tobacco-containing article according to claim 2, characterised in that the aromatic plant parts have a size in the range of from 0.2 mm to 6 mm.

4. Tobacco-containing article according to anyone of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the aromatic plant parts comprise at least one of the substances selected from the following list: herbs, teas, spearmint, peppermint, anise, sage, rosemary, wintergreen, avocado, ground coffee beans.

5. Tobacco-containing article according to anyone of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that at least part of the tobacco and of the aromatic plant parts are included in a combined mixture.

6. Tobacco-containing article according to anyone of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that at least part of the tobacco comprises reconstituted tobacco.

7. Tobacco-containing article according to anyone of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that at least part of the aromatic plant parts comprises a reconstituted product.

8. Tobacco-containing article according to anyone of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that at least part of the tobacco and of the aromatic plant parts are included in a combined reconstituted product.

9. Tobacco-containing article according to anyone of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that at least part of the aromatic plant parts is provided.in the form of granules, preferably of a size in the range of from 0.2 mm to 5 mm or from 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm.

10. Tobacco-containing article according to claim 9, characterised in that at least part of the granules consists of pressed aromatic plant parts and optionally additional water, without further additives.

11. Tobacco-containing article according to anyone of claims 1 to 10, characterised by a cut top-loaded sheet product, in which a base layer comprises reconstituted tobacco, wherein the base layer is provided on one side with aromatic plant parts.

12. Tobacco-containing article according to anyone of claims 1 to 11, characterised by a cut top-loaded sheet product, in which a base layer comprises reconstituted aromatic plant parts, wherein the base layer is provided on one side with aromatic plant parts.

13. Tobacco-containing article according to anyone of claims 1 to 12, characterised by at least one flavourant in addition to the aromatic plant parts, preferably added as a liquid.

14. Tobacco-containing article according to anyone of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the tobacco comprises an American blend or a Virginia blend.

15. Tobacco-containing article according to anyone of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the aromatic plant parts have a moisture of from 5% to 35%, preferably of from 5% to 20% or from 7% to 12%, related to the dry weight of the respective aromatic plant parts plus the moisture.

16. Tobacco-containing article according to anyone of claims 1 to 15, characterised in that the tobacco-containing article is provided as one of the following tobacco-containing articles: a cigarette, a light cigarette having a tar level of up to 7 mg, an ultralight cigarette having a tar level of up to 2 mg, a cigarillo, a cigar.

17. Tobacco-containing article according to anyone of claims 1 to 15, characterised in that the tobacco-containing article is provided in one of the following forms: pipe tobacco, fine-cut for self-made cigarettes, snus, snus in the range of from 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm, snus in the range of from 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm.

18. Method of manufacturing a tobacco-containing article according to claim 1, wherein, after cutting tobacco, aromatic plant parts, which do not derive from the tobacco plant and which, preferably, have a size defined by a screening method in the range of from 0.1 mm to 10 mm or in the range of from 0.2 mm to 6 mm, are added to the tobacco in an amount in the range of from 0.5% by weight to 25% by weight, related to the total weight of the tobacco and the aromatic plant parts.

19. Method according to claim 18, characterised in that aromatic plant parts are added during treatment of the cut tobacco.