JP7586841B2 - Cigarillos or cigars - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cigar or cigar having a cylindrical shape and comprising a cut filler comprising finely cut tobacco leaves, a binder made of a first sheet material, and a wrapper made of a tobacco sheet material, in which the cylindrical rod of cut filler is wrapped in a rotation-translation configuration with a double layer of the binder and the wrapper, the binder being disposed directly on the cut filler as an inner layer and the wrapper being disposed on the outer surface of the binder as an outer layer.

Cigarillos and cigars offer consumers a very different taste experience compared to cigarettes. In particular, many cigarette consumers perceive the taste and/or sensory experience of cigarillos or cigars as unpleasant. Nevertheless, such consumers may desire to consume smoking articles in the form of cigarillos or cigars.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a cigarillo or cigar that is easy to manufacture, is cost-effective, fits into standard cigarillo or cigar manufacturing equipment, and has a similar sensory experience compared to cigarettes.

The aforementioned object is achieved by a cigar or cigar having a cylindrical shape and comprising a cut filler comprising finely cut tobacco leaves, a binder made of a first sheet material, and a wrapper made of a tobacco sheet material, in which the cylindrical rod of cut filler is wrapped in a rotation-translation form with a double layer made of the binder and the wrapper, the binder being placed directly on the cut filler as an inner layer and the wrapper being placed on the outer surface of the binder as an outer layer. The invention is characterized in that the binder comprises the aromatic compound solavetivone, the content of which in the binder is at least 15 ppm.

For cigarette consumers, the negatively perceived sensory experience of a standard cigarillo or cigar is determined primarily by the wrapper. A standard cigarillo or cigar wrapper is usually made of air-cured tobacco leaves. This air-cured tobacco leaves contain a very strong, ammonia-like taste. A standard binder is made of paper, reconstituted tobacco (RTB), or dark or light air-cured tobacco. Such standard paper or RTB binders do not provide a rich sensory experience to cigarette consumers. As a result, the overall sensory experience of cigarillos and cigars is determined primarily by the wrapper. A dark or light air-cured tobacco binder provides a stronger sensory experience, as does the wrapper. The use of a dark or light air-cured tobacco binder leads to more unpleasant tastes for standard cigarillos/cigars and cigarette consumers.

To counteract and harmonize the strong taste of the wrapper and/or binder, which is undesirable for cigarette consumers, a binder containing the aromatic compound solavetivone is used. Solavetivone has a sweet taste, which neutralizes and harmonizes the strong taste of the wrapper, resulting in a sensory experience of the cigarillos and cigars similar to that of cigarettes. Due to this improved sensory experience, cigarette consumers experience the taste of the cigarillos or cigars according to the invention in a similar way to cigarettes, and therefore perceive the cigarillos and cigars according to the invention as pleasant. This is advantageous since the invention provides cigarillos or cigars that meet the taste requirements of cigarette consumers. The very simple replacement of the binder material allows the invention to be manufactured using existing standard cigarillo or cigar manufacturing equipment, which allows for cost-effective manufacture of the invention.

Preferably, the content of solavetivone in the binder is at least 15 ppm. This minimum amount of solavetivone in the binder is necessary to achieve the desired sensory experience. This solavetivone content sufficiently masks and harmonizes the strong taste of the wrapper, so that cigarette consumers accustomed to a cigarette-like taste perceive the overall taste of the cigarillos and cigars as pleasant.

According to another embodiment, the solavetivone content in the binder is between 15 ppm and 120 ppm. Materials with a solavetivone content of up to 120 ppm show good availability. This content range therefore ensures a wide availability of binder materials while ensuring the presence of a minimum content of solavetivone. The wide availability of the extract ensures a cost-effective manufacturing process.

According to another embodiment, the solavetivone content in the binder is greater than 120 ppm.

A high solavetivone content in the binder may further positively impact the taste of the cigarillo or cigar. In this embodiment, a cigarillo or cigar with a sweeter and milder taste is provided. This opens up the possibility of providing consumers with a sweeter and milder cigarillo or cigar.

According to another embodiment, the binder consists of flue-cured Virginia tobacco containing aromatic compounds. Flue-cured Virginia tobacco naturally contains soravetivone. Soravetivone is naturally found in Virginia tobacco leaves. Flue-cured Virginia tobacco is commercially available. The commercial availability is an advantage, since the raw materials necessary to manufacture the invention are readily available. Flue-cured Virginia tobacco can also be easily incorporated into the manufacture of cigarillos or cigars, since only a change in the binder material is required. The technology of manufacturing cigarillos or cigars with binders made of certain types of tobacco is also widely known. Thus, a change from a standard binder, for example an RTB binder, to a binder made of flue-cured Virginia tobacco would be easy to realize in the manufacture of cigarillos or cigars, without the need to make any changes or modifications to the equipment or work procedures. This ensures a low investment to bring the invention to the market, which makes the invention particularly cost-effective.

Furthermore, Flue-cured Virginia tobacco is a commercially available naturally grown product. This makes it possible to achieve a cigarillo or cigar that offers an improved sensory experience to the cigarette consumer, without introducing chemical additives into the product. The above proposed solution is therefore superior to introducing any artificial or natural aromatic substances into the cigarillo or cigar during the manufacturing process, since it would mean modifying the natural tobacco product, which is often not desired by consumers.

Widely available Flue-cured Virginia tobacco contains solavetivone contents of up to 120 ppm. The minimum amount of solavetivone in the binder to achieve the desired sensory experience is 15 ppm. This makes a concentration interval of 15-120 ppm solavetivone in the binder the most cost-effective to achieve a binder with a minimum solavetivone content. Preferably, Flue-cured Virginia tobacco leaves are selected that have a higher solavetivone content of at least 15 ppm.

According to another embodiment, the wrapper is made of air-cured tobacco. In combination with a binder containing soravetibone, the desired cigarette-like sensory experience is achieved in the cigarillo or cigar. This embodiment is easily achieved since air-cured tobacco as a wrapper is a well-proven wrapper material. Therefore, this wrapper material is compatible with the standard manufacturing process of cigarillos or cigars. Air-cured tobacco generally has a fermented or ammonia-like taste. Air-cured tobacco also uses a wrapper material for its visual appearance, since the wrapper is the outermost layer of the cigarillo or cigar and therefore determines the structural appearance and color of the cigarillo or cigar. The binder containing soravetibone provides a sweet taste and a more balanced and harmonious overall taste is achieved in the cigarillo or cigar, while the visual appearance of the cigarillo or cigar is not altered compared to a standard cigarillo or cigar.

According to another embodiment, the wrapper is comprised of burley tobacco. In combination with a binder containing soravetivone, the burley tobacco wrapper provides a desired cigarette-like sensory experience to the cigarillo or cigar. As burley tobacco is also widely available, the raw material for the production of this embodiment can be readily provided. Burley tobacco generally has an ammonia-like taste with nutty and/or chocolate-like notes. The binder containing soravetivone provides a sweeter taste, while a more balanced and harmonious overall taste is achieved in the cigarillo or cigar.

Depending on the use of air-cured or burley tobacco as a wrapper, slightly different overall taste profiles are achieved. Both embodiments can be manufactured side-by-side, allowing consumers to choose a particular taste profile depending on their preference.

According to another embodiment, the wrapper has a total sugar content of less than 3%. This sugar content of less than 3% in the wrapper, together with the solavetivone in the binder, further improves the desired cigarette-like sensory experience of the cigarillo or cigar.

According to another embodiment, the cut filler shredded tobacco consists of an American blend tobacco blend. American blend tobacco is widely used for cigarettes. In addition to the sola vetibon in the binder, the American blend tobacco will contribute to the sensory experience of the cigarillo or cigar like a cigarette. The taste of the American blend cut filler includes full-bodied, strong, smooth, fruity, nutty, caramel-sweet characteristics. The American blend cut filler provides a high level of tobacco taste, which has a medium to high impact on the overall taste of the cigarillo or cigar. The American blend tobacco further reduces the impact of the wrapper on the taste. The ammonia characteristics from the wrapper are countered. This reduces the cigar-like aroma and makes the cigarillo or cigar taste overall like a cigarette. The American blend cut filler, when combined with the binder and wrapper, also produces an individual overall taste profile with bitter chocolate, nutty, and caramel sweet characteristics.

According to another embodiment, the cut filler shredded tobacco consists of Virginia tobacco. Virginia tobacco is a type of tobacco that is widely used in cigarettes. Thus, Virginia tobacco contributes to the sensory experience of the cigarillo or cigar, which is like a cigarette. Virginia tobacco also brings a different sensory experience to the cigarillo or cigar, compared to using American blend tobacco as the cut filler. Virginia tobacco contains a natural tobacco taste with sweetness. Virginia tobacco is highly aromatic. Virginia tobacco has a moderate impact on the overall taste of the cigarillo or cigar. When combined with the wrapper and binder, Virginia tobacco as a cut filler balances the impact of the wrapper by masking the ammonia character. Thus, Virginia tobacco as a cut filler further contributes to the overall taste of the cigarillo or cigar being like a cigarette. Virginia tobacco also enhances the chocolate character and creates an individual overall taste profile compared to other cut fillers. This allows for the offering of a wide variety of cigarillos or cigars using a variety of cut filler materials, all with an overall cigarette-like taste. This allows for the offering of a more personalized sensory experience for the consumer while still providing an overall cigarette-like taste.

According to another embodiment, the cut filler shredded tobacco consists of an improved American blend tobacco leaf mixture. Such a mixture further opens up the possibility of adapting the sensory experience of the cigarillo or cigar to various tastes by adding and/or removing portions of certain types of leaves. Such mixtures are frequently used in cigarettes and contribute to a cigarette-like taste of the cigarillo or cigar.

According to another embodiment, the cut filler shredded tobacco consists of improved Virginia tobacco. Improved Virginia tobacco is also widely used in cigarettes. Improved Virginia tobacco will therefore contribute to the sensory experience of the cigarillo or cigar being more cigarette-like. Again, this type of cut filler provides a slightly different taste compared to American blend tobacco, Virginia tobacco, or improved American blend tobacco leaf mixtures. As a result, the sensory experience of the cigarillo or cigar can be adapted to local tastes. It is also easily possible to offer various embodiments on the market at the same time. All of the embodiments contain soravetivone in the binder without significant changes in the manufacturing process, but different cut filler materials, thus resulting in a slightly different sensory experience. Only the cut filler material needs to be replaced. This is very similar to the various types or brands of cigarettes, each of which has certain common aspects in the sensory experience compared to a standard cigarillo or cigar, but each of which has a slightly different taste compared to each other. This allows consumers to select a cigarillo or cigar with a cigarette-like sensory experience that also meets their personal taste requirements.

The object of the present invention is also realized by using in the cigarillo or cigar a binder comprising the aromatic compound solavetivone, the content of which in the binder is at least 15 ppm. The use of such a binder comprising solavetivone is very advantageous, since it counteracts the strong taste from the cigarillo or cigar wrapper, creating a more cigarette-like sensory experience for consumers who prefer the sensory experience of cigarettes over that of standard cigarillos or cigars. The present invention is very easy to manufacture, since standard cigarillo or cigar manufacturing equipment can be used, simply by changing the binder and keeping the cigarillo or cigar wrapper and cut filler as in standard cigarillos or cigars. No further investment is required to start the production, which makes the present invention easy to implement and cost-effective.

According to another embodiment, a binder is used that consists of flue-cured Virginia tobacco that contains the aromatic compound solavetivone. To impart solavetivone to the binder, the use of flue-cured Virginia tobacco is advantageous, since this tobacco naturally contains solavetivone. This means that no additional manufacturing steps are required to artificially add solavetivone to the binder material. This tobacco is also a purely natural product. It is therefore possible to introduce the aromatic compound solavetivone into the cigarillos or cigars without the addition of artificial substances and/or chemicals. Fluue-cured Virginia tobacco is also commercially available. This ensures a continuous supply of raw materials for the manufacture of cigarillos or cigars.

Solavetivone is a substance that produces a sweet flavor or aroma. The molecular formula of solavetivone is:

Solavetivone (C ₁₅ H ₂₂ O) is naturally produced in flue-cured Virginia tobacco. It is a stress compound produced by the tobacco plant itself. In the tobacco plant, it functions as a metabolite and phytoalexin. The level of solavetivone contained in the leaves is affected during the growth stage by physical damage, UV radiation, temperature, water content, infection with Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV), infection with Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV), further plant diseases, tobacco wilt, and/or bacterial metabolites. Preferably, flue-cured Virginia tobacco is used that contains as high a solavetivone content as possible, but at least 15 ppm of solavetivone. The taste profile of the used flue-cured Virginia tobacco and/or the overall taste profile of the cigarillo or cigar can be controlled by flavor analysis.

Further advantages, objects and features of the present invention are explained, by way of example only, in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar components in different embodiments may be designated by the same reference symbols.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a cigarillo (1) or cigar. A detailed view of the binder (3).

In the following, reference is made to a cigarillo (1). However, when referring to a cigarillo (1), the possible embodiment of a cigar is always included instead of a cigarillo (1).

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a cigarillo 1. The cigarillo 1 has a cylindrical shape with a longitudinal axis L that protrudes through the center of the two bottom faces 1a, 1b. The cut filler 2 has approximately the same cylindrical shape as the cigarillo 1, but with a slightly smaller diameter. The binder 3 and the wrapper 4 are wound in a rotation-translation configuration around the cylindrical rod of the cut filler 2. By rotation-translation configuration it is meant that the binder 3 and the wrapper 4 are wound around the cylindrical rod of the cut filler with a movement that consists of two components. The first component is the rotation of the binder 3 and/or the wrapper 4 around the longitudinal axis L. The second component is the translation of the binder 3 and/or the wrapper 4 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis L. The superposition of the two components realizes a rotation-translation movement of the binder 3 and/or the wrapper 4. This arrangement of the binder 3 and the wrapper 4 around the cut filler resembles a spiral.

The binder 3 is wound around the cut filler 2 as a first layer. The wrapper 4 is wound around the binder 3 and the cut filler 2 as a second layer. The binder 3 is thus arranged so as to be in direct contact with the cut filler 2 and the wrapper 4. The binder 3 is in direct contact with the cut filler 2 at the inner side 5 of the binder 3, which is arranged towards the center of the cigarillo 1. The binder 3 is in direct contact with the wrapper 4 at the outer side 6 of the binder 3. The wrapper 4 is arranged so as to be in direct contact with the binder 3. The wrapper 4 is in direct contact with the binder 3 at the inner side 7 of the wrapper 4. The outer side 8 of the wrapper 4 represents the outer surface of the cigarillo 1. In other words, the binder 3 and the wrapper 4 are arranged in a double layer that surrounds the cut filler 2. The binder 3 refers to the inner layer of the double layer, and the wrapper 4 refers to the outer layer of the double layer.

By using a binder 3 containing soravetivone, soravetivone is arranged in a double layer. This location of soravetivone very close to the wrapper 4 is beneficial compared to, for example, a cut filler 2 containing soravetivone, since soravetivone is mainly needed to balance the strong taste impact of the wrapper 4.

In the finished cigarillo, the binder 3 and wrapper 4 form a double layer that surrounds the cut filler. The thickness of the additional material of the binder 3 and wrapper 4 adds to the slightly smaller cylindrical shape of the rod of cut filler 2 to give the overall cylindrical shape of the cigarillo 1.

Figure 2 shows a detailed view of the binder 3. The binder 3 preferably always has a similar shape. This simplifies the use of the machines for making the cigarillo. However, it is also possible to use whole tobacco leaves as the binder 3. The outer surface of the cigarillo 1 is formed by the outer side 8 of the wrapper 4, which completely covers the binder 3, so that the visual appearance of the binder 3 is negligible.

The applicant reserves the right to claim all features disclosed in the present application as essential features of the invention, insofar as they are novel, individually or in combination, in the light of the prior art. It should further be noted that the figures describe features that may be advantageous individually. Those skilled in the art will immediately recognize that a particular feature disclosed in a figure may be advantageous without incorporating additional features of this figure. Moreover, those skilled in the art will recognize that advantages may develop from a combination of various features disclosed in one or various figures.
The present invention includes the following embodiments.
[1] A cigar or cigar having a cylindrical shape and comprising a cut filler (2) containing finely cut tobacco leaves, a binder (3) made of a first sheet material, and a wrapper (4) made of a tobacco sheet material, in which a cylindrical rod of cut filler (2) is wrapped in a rotation-translation form with a double layer of binder (3) and wrapper (4), said binder (3) being placed directly on said cut filler (2) as an inner layer, and said wrapper (4) being placed on the outer surface of said binder (3) as an outer layer;
A cigar or cigar (1) characterized in that said binder (3) contains the aromatic compound solavetivone, the content of which in said binder is at least 15 ppm.
[2] The cigar or cigar according to [1], characterized in that the content of soravetivone in the binder is 15 ppm to 120 ppm.
[3] The cigar or cigar according to [1], characterized in that the content of soravetivone in the binder exceeds 120 ppm.
[4] The cigar or cigar according to any one of [1] to [3], characterized in that the binder (3) is made of flue-cured Virginia tobacco containing aromatic compounds.
[5] A cigar or cigar according to any one of [1] to [4], characterized in that the wrapper (4) is made of air-cured tobacco.
[6] The cigar or cigar according to any one of [1] to [5], characterized in that the wrapper (4) is made of burley tobacco.
[7] A cigar or cigar according to [7] or [8], characterized in that the wrapper (4) has a total sugar content of less than 3%.
[8] A cigar or cigar according to any one of [1] to [7], characterized in that the finely cut tobacco leaves of the cut filler (2) are made of an American blend tobacco leaf mixture.
[9] A cigar or cigar according to any one of [1] to [8], characterized in that the finely cut tobacco leaves of the cut filler (2) are made of Virginia tobacco.
[10] A cigar or cigar according to any one of [1] to [9], characterized in that the finely cut tobacco leaves of the cut filler (2) are made of an improved American blend tobacco leaf mixture.
[11] A cigar or cigar according to any one of [1] to [10], characterized in that the finely cut tobacco leaves of the cut filler (2) are made of improved Virginia tobacco.
[12] Use of a binder (3) containing the aromatic compound solavetivone in a cigarillo (1) or cigar, wherein the content of said aromatic compound solavetivone in said binder (3) is at least 15 ppm.
[13] The use of the binder (3) according to [13], wherein the binder (3) is made of fluid-cured Virginia tobacco containing the aromatic compound solavetivone.

1 cigarillo 1a, 1b base surface 2 cut filler 3 binder 4 wrapper 5 inside of binder 6 outside of binder 7 inside of wrapper 8 outside of wrapper L longitudinal axis

Claims (11)

A cigar or cigar (1) having a cylindrical shape and comprising a cut filler (2) comprising finely cut tobacco leaves, a binder (3) made of a first sheet material, and a wrapper (4) made of a tobacco sheet material, wherein a cylindrical rod of cut filler (2) is wrapped in a rotation-translation form with a double layer of binder (3) and wrapper (4), said binder (3) being placed directly on said cut filler (2) as an inner layer, and said wrapper (4) being placed on the outer surface of said binder (3) as an outer layer;
The binder (3) contains the aromatic compound solavetivone, the content of which in the binder is at least 15 ppm;
A cigarillo (1) or cigar, characterized in that said binder (3) is made of Flue-cured Virginia tobacco containing said aromatic compound solavetivone . A cigar or cigar according to claim 1, characterized in that the content of the aromatic compound solavetivone in the binder is between 15 ppm and 120 ppm. A cigar or cigar according to claim 1, characterized in that the content of the aromatic compound solavetivone in the binder is greater than 120 ppm. A cigar (1) or cigar according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the wrapper (4) is made of air-cured tobacco. A cigar (1) or cigar according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the wrapper (4) is made of burley tobacco. A cigar (1) or cigar according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the wrapper (4) has a total sugar content of less than 3%. A cigar or cigar according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the finely cut tobacco leaves of the cut filler (2) are made of an American blend tobacco leaf mixture. A cigar or cigar according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the finely cut tobacco leaves of the cut filler (2) are made of Virginia tobacco. A cigarillo (1) or cigar according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the finely cut tobacco leaves of the cut filler (2) are made of an improved American blend tobacco leaf mixture. A cigar or cigar according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the finely cut tobacco leaves of the cut filler (2) are made of improved Virginia tobacco. Use of a binder (3) containing the aromatic compound solavetivone in a cigarillo (1) or cigar, the binder (3) having a content of the aromatic compound solavetivone of at least 15 ppm, the binder (3) being made of Flue-cured Virginia tobacco containing the aromatic compound solavetivone.

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