WO2016174013A1

WO2016174013A1 - Clove-containing flavourant material

Info

Publication number: WO2016174013A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/059256
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heru Santoso
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
Priority date: 2015-04-28
Filing date: 2016-04-26
Publication date: 2016-11-03
Also published as: BR112017020882A2; MX2017013691A; MY188742A; BR112017020882B1; MX395708B

Abstract

There is provided a method of method of treating cloves for use in tobacco cut filler, the method comprising the steps of: conditioning the cloves to increase the moisture content; rolling the cloves to a thickness of between 0.05 millimetres and 0.4 millimetres, wherein the cloves are rolled between two counter-rotating having a different surface speed to each other; and cutting the rolled cloves. Further, the invention relates to a tobacco cut filler for a smoking article comprising at least 1% by weight of cut rolled cloves.

Description

CLOVE-CONTAINING FLAVOURANT MATERIAL

The present invention relates to a novel method for the treatment of cloves for use in cut filler. Further, the present invention relates to the production of cut filler comprising cloves that have been treated using such a method.

Combustible smoking articles, such as cigarettes, generally comprise shredded tobacco (usually in cut filler form) surrounded by a paper wrapper to form a tobacco rod.

The shredded tobacco in the rod can be of a single type of tobacco or a blend of two or more types of tobacco. Conventionally, cut filler tobacco products for smoking articles are formed predominantly from the lamina portion of the tobacco leaf, which is separated from the stem portion of the leaf during a threshing process. Much of the stem portion that remains after the lamina has been removed and separated is not used. However, in order to increase the amount of the tobacco material that can be used commercially, it is not uncommon to add some tobacco stems back into the cut filler together with the lamina. In order to improve the taste and burning characteristics of the tobacco stem for use in the cut filler, the stems are often first subjected to one or more treatment procedures.

To enhance the flavour of the smoke, it is known to provide smoking articles that include flavourants. Such flavourants can be provided for example naturally as botanical material, such as in the form of natural clove material (for example, natural cut cloves).

Where cloves are used to enhance the flavour of the mainstream smoke or aerosol, the clove material is typically provided with the cut filler in the tobacco rod. Thus, the clove material can combust with the tobacco to release flavourant as the smoking article is consumed. Such smoking articles are generally known as "Kretek" cigarettes. As the cloves in Kretek cigarettes are burnt, their flavour and aroma are released into the mainstream smoke. This typically also involves the generation of a crackling sound and may be accompanied by the generation of sparks in the tobacco rod.

However, there is generally a significant difference in density between the clove material and the tobacco and so cut filler formed from tobacco material with the inclusion of clove material is typically undesirably inhomogeneous.

Thus, it would be desirable to provide a method for the treatment of cloves that enables them to be used more effectively in a cut filler product. In particular, it would be desirable to provide one such method that produces clove material having a uniform density and high filling power.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of treating cloves for use in tobacco cut filler. According to the method, the cloves are first of all conditioned to increase their moisture content. Subsequent to the conditioning step, the cloves are rolled between two counter-rotating rolls having a different surface speed to each other to a thickness of between 0.05 millimetres and 0.4 millimetres. Further, the cloves are cut.

Cloves treated in accordance with such method may be blended with tobacco material to produce tobacco cut filler.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tobacco cut filler for a smoking article comprising at least 1 percent by weight of cut rolled cloves.

The cut filler including the cut rolled cloves according to the invention may be used for manufacturing a smoking article.

It shall be appreciated that any features described with reference to one aspect of the present invention are equally applicable to any other aspect of the invention.

The term "clove" is used throughout this specification to denote the dried, unopened flower buds or the dried stems or both dried unopened flower buds and stems of the clove tree (Syzygium aromaticum, also known as Eugenia caryophyllata), commonly used as a spice. The term "clove material" is used throughout this specification to denote any material derived from, or comprising, natural clove, which is suitable for imparting clove flavour into the tobacco material. The clove material may include whole cloves, clove particles (which may comprise ground or crushed cloves, or cloves that have been otherwise processed to reduce the particle size), cloves incorporated into a binder, sheet or carrier, clove oil, or combinations thereof. Preferably, however, the clove material comprises whole cloves, clove particles or both whole cloves and clove particles.

Cloves contain an essential oil, the main ingredient of which is eugenol (4-Allyl-2- methoxyphenol, chemical formula: C10H12O2, Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number 97- 53-0). Eugenol is the compound primarily responsible for clove flavour. The term "flavour" used throughout this specification, should be interpreted to include a gustatory sensation (taste), an olfactory sensation (smell), or both a gustatory sensation and an olfactory sensation. For example, the flavour absorbed by the tobacco material may impart a taste into the mainstream smoke. Alternatively or additionally, the flavour absorbed by the tobacco material may impart a fragrance into the mainstream smoke.

In the present specification, the "rolled thickness" of the cloves produced by methods according to the invention refers to the distance between a first surface of the clove (or clove particle) that has been contacted with a rolling apparatus and a second surface of the clove opposite the first surface that has been contacted with a rolling apparatus. In practice, the rolled thickness therefore corresponds to the dimension of the clove that is reduced in size during the rolling process. The rolled thickness of an individual clove can be measured using a conventional measuring device under a microscope. The rolled thickness of an individual clove is taken at the point along the direction of cutting that yields the largest cross-sectional area. The term "filling power" is used throughout this specification to refer to the volume of space taken up by a given weight or mass of a material in a smoking article. The greater the filling power of a material, such as tobacco cut filler or clove material, the lower the weight of the material required to fill a tobacco rod of predefined dimensions. The values of filling power are expressed in terms of corrected cylinder volume (CCV), which is the cylinder volume (CV) of the material at a reference moisture level of 12.5 percent oven volatiles. The cylinder volume (CV) may be determined using a Borgwaldt densimeter DD60 or DD60A type fitted with a measuring head for cut tobacco and a tobacco cylinder container.

In a suitable method for determining the value of CCV, a sample of the material is placed in the tobacco cylinder container of the Borgwaldt densimeter and subjected to a load of 2 kg for

30 seconds. The height of the sample after the loading time has expired is measured and this is converted to a cylinder volume using the formula:

r^{2 ■} h ^■ π

CV =

SW^■ 10

In the formula r is the cylinder radius (3.00 centimetres for the densimeter indicated above), h is the height of the sample after the loading time has expired and SW is the weight of the sample. The measured CV is then converted to a corrected value of CCV at the reference moisture level value (ROV) of 12.5 percent oven volatiles, using the formula:

CCV = (OV - ROV) - f + CV where OV is the actual percent oven volatiles of the sample and f is a correction factor (0.4 for the test indicated).

The term "percent Oven Volatiles" (percent OV or percent OV) is used to refer to the moisture content of the material. It is determined by measuring the percentage weight loss from the material being tested upon drying a sample of the material in an oven at 100 plus or minus 1 degree Celsius (°C) for 3 hours plus or minus 0.5 minutes. In practice, it is assumed that a significant majority of the weight loss from plant material, such as tobacco or clove material, results from the evaporation of moisture. It should be noted that, on an absolute basis, the values of moisture content determined by oven drying may be greater than the results of water content analysis when using a specific method such as ISO 6488 (Karl Fischer method). The difference is sample-type dependent and is due to the loss of volatile materials other than water from the tested material during oven drying.

In contrast to known methods of treating cloves for use as a component of tobacco cut filler, according to the present invention, after a preliminary conditioning treatment, cloves are rolled to a thickness of between 0.05 millimetres and 0.4 millimetres between a pair of counter- rotating rollers that are rotating at different speeds to each other, that is, differential speed rollers. Further, the cloves are cut.

Advantageously, methods according to the present invention yield clove flake-like particles that have a lower density and therefore a better filling power compared to conventionally used clove material. Further, the clove particles obtained by methods according to the invention are closer in thickness to tobacco lamina. Thus, during manufacturing, it is advantageously easy to handle the clove particles as if they were lamina particles and simply feed them into the process line alongside the lamina particles.

Advantageously, a more homogeneous cut filler product is obtained when blending clove material treated by methods according to the present invention. Further, the applicant has surprisingly found that clove particles that have undergone a rolling operation according to the invention do not crackle when burnt. As is known, cloves are effectively dried flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum, a tree in the family Myrtaceae. Accordingly, each clove comprises a calyx of sepals and a corolla of unopened petals, which form a ball-like portion attached to the calyx. Without wishing to be bound to theory, it is understood that the crackling sound typical of kretek cigarettes is given by the corolla burning. Even when the corolla is coarsely ground, the resulting clove material will still crackle when burning. Thus, it is thought that the rolling step of the methods according to the present invention advantageously alters the structure of the dried petals in the bud such that the crackling is substantially prevented.

In addition, in the implementation of methods according to the present invention, cloves can advantageously be processed using apparatus and methods which may already be in place for processing other tobacco materials, such as tobacco stems or stalks.

In the first step of the method according to the invention, the cloves are conditioned to increase the moisture content prior to the rolling/cutting operations, so that the cloves are sufficiently pliable to be rolled with minimal breakage, cracking or other physical damage occurring. The conditioning step additionally reduces the risk of cellular damage to the cloves as a result of the rolling.

Preferably, during the conditioning step the moisture content of the cloves is increased to at least about 15 percent oven volatiles, more preferably at least about 20 percent oven volatiles. In addition or as an alternative, during the conditioning step the moisture content of the cloves is increased to less than about 35 percent oven volatiles, more preferably less than about 30 percent oven volatiles.

The conditioning of the cloves is preferably carried out by contacting the cloves with water, steam, or a mixture of water and steam. For example, the cloves may be contacted with a counter flow of steam and water while being tumbled in a rotating cylindrical drum. The cloves may alternatively be conditioned in a humidity chamber. In a further alternative, the cloves may be left to soak for a period of time in order to allow the moisture to penetrate into the internal structure of the cloves.

After the conditioning step, the cloves are rolled between two counter-rotating rolls having a different surface speed to reduce their thickness to between about 0.05 millimetres and about 0.4 millimetres.

Preferably, the cloves are rolled to a thickness of at least about 0.1 millimetres. In addition, or as an alternative, the cloves are rolled to a thickness of less than about 0.3 millimetres, more preferably less than about 0.2 millimetres.

The rolling operation reduces the thickness of the cloves such that they have a similar thickness to tobacco lamina portions. Thus, if cloves are blended with lamina portions to make tobacco cut filler, the material in the blend has a more uniform appearance. It shall be understood that, in general, the thickness of a clove, be it a non-rolled, natural clove or a rolled clove produced by methods according to the invention, varies across the clove. In particular, there may be portions of the clove which, by nature, are even thinner than the distance between the counter- rotating rollers used in the rolling operation according to the invention. Throughout this specification, expressions such as "reduced thickness" or "reduce the thickness of the clove" refer to a portion of the clove the thickness of which is materially reduced by the rolling operation.

It has advantageously been found that the use of differential speed rollers facilitates the rolling of the cloves to the required thickness and, in particular, facilitates the reduction in thickness of the corolla portions of the cloves whilst limiting or eliminating altogether the occurrence of cracking and fragmentation of the cloves. It is believed that this is due to the shear force to which the cloves are subjected as they pass through rollers that are travelling at different speeds to each other. In fact, if rolls rotate at approximately the same speed, the cloves are substantially subjected to a compressive force. On the other hand, with rolls rotating at different speed, the cloves are subjected to both compressive and shear loads. This stretching of the clove occurring at the same time as the compression of the clove optimises the rolling process and enables a greater overall thickness reduction. Further, the use of differential speed rollers allows for a finer flake size output.

As a result of the rolling, the cellular structure of the clove will typically change and this change will be visible when the rolled clove is viewed under a microscope. In addition, the corolla portion of the clove will generally spread as a result of the rolling of the clove and this will be visible to the naked eye.

Preferably, during the rolling step of the method of the present invention, in the clove rolling machine the rollers are adjusted by the machine such that they apply a compressive force of at least about 50 tonnes to the cloves, more preferably at least about 70 tonnes. Preferably, during the rolling step of the method of the present invention, in the clove rolling machine the rollers are adjusted by the machine such that they apply a compressive force of less than about 200 tonnes to the cloves, more preferably less than about 150 tonnes.

The rolling is preferably carried out in a single step rolling process, although in some cases a two-step rolling process may be suitable. The gap between the rollers may be varied to achieve the desired rolled thickness of the cloves.

Preferably, the counter-rotating rollers are operated such that the differential in surface speed of the rollers is at least about 5 percent, more preferably at least about 8 percent. This means that the surface speed of the faster of the two rollers is preferably at least about 5 percent greater than the surface speed of the slower roller.

Preferably, the differential in surface speed of the rollers is less than about 15 percent, more preferably less than about 10 percent. Preferably, the rollers operate at an average surface speed of between about 3 metres per second and about 8 metres per second, more preferably between about 4 metres per second and about 6 metres per second and most preferably about 5 metres per second.

Methods according to the invention further comprise the step of cutting the cloves, in particular with a view to producing particles of the rolled cloves of a suitable cut width for use in cut filler. The cutting step is preferably carried out after both the rolling step and the conditioning step described above. However, the cutting step may alternatively be carried out before the rolling step described above, but should always be carried out after the conditioning step.

The cut width can be adjusted according to the desired use of the clove "flakes". For example, a smaller, finer cut width may be preferred for cut filler intended for use in smoking articles, in particular slim cigarettes. Also, so called "fine cut" for a roll-your-own cigarette or make- your-own cigarette may have a relatively small cut width, compared to cigarette cut filler.

Preferably, the cloves are cut with a cut width between the blades of at least 0.1 millimetres, preferably at least 0.2 millimetres. In addition, or as an alternative, the cloves are cut with a cut width between the blades of less than about 1 .2 millimetres, more preferably less than about 0.8 millimetres, even more preferably less than about 0.6 millimetres and most preferably less than about 0.5 millimetres. In some preferred embodiments, the cloves are cut to a cut width between about 0.1 and 0.6 millimetres, more preferably between 0.2 and 0.5 millimetres.

After cutting, the rolled cut cloves may optionally be dried to reduce the moisture content. Preferably, the moisture content is reduced to between about 10 percent oven volatiles and about 18 percent oven volatiles, more preferably between about 1 1 percent oven volatiles and about 15 percent oven volatiles, most preferably, between about 12 percent oven volatiles and about 14 percent oven volatiles.

The drying step may be carried out at room temperature, but preferably the cut rolled cloves are heated in a stream of hot air at a temperature of between about 70 degrees Celsius and about 200 degrees Celsius. Suitable apparatus for drying of the cut rolled cloves include, but are not limited to, a rotary dryer and a flash tower dryer.

In some embodiments of the method, after cutting, the cut rolled cloves may optionally be subjected to an expansion step. In the expansion step, the cut rolled stems are impregnated with liquid carbon dioxide and heated to produce their expansion. This is advantageous in that it additionally expands the clove "flakes" and thus further increases their filling power.

The cut rolled cloves obtainable by methods according to the invention may conveniently be combined with tobacco material. By way of example, this may be done for making clove- enriched cut filler. In some embodiments, the cut rolled cloves may be combined with the tobacco material prior to the primary processing steps. In the alternative, the blend of cloves and tobacco material could also be made after the distinct processing of both.

A tobacco cut filler for a smoking article according to the invention comprises at least 1 percent by weight of cut rolled cloves. Preferably, the tobacco cut filler comprises at least 5 percent by weight of cut rolled cloves.

The cut rolled leaves may be combined with one or more of tobacco lamina, reconstituted tobacco, expanded tobacco, tobacco stems or any combinations thereof.

Preferably, the tobacco cut filler comprises at least 60 percent, and preferably at least 80 percent by weight tobacco lamina having a mean cut width between 0.8 millimetres and 1 .1 millimetres, more preferably about 0.9 millimetres, and a mean thickness of about 0.2 millimetres. The tobacco cut filler comprises up to 95 percent by weight tobacco lamina with a mean cut width between 0.8 millimetres and 1 .1 millimetres, more preferably about 0.9 millimetres, and a mean thickness of about 0.2 millimetres. The particles of tobacco lamina in the cut filler are therefore of the same order of magnitude compared with the cut rolled cloves. As such, the blend of cut rolled cloves and tobacco lamina can advantageously be transported and processed effectively without significant settling of the cut rolled cloves.

Tobacco compositions comprising rolled cloves according to the invention may be incorporated into a variety of smoking articles. For example, the tobacco composition may be used as cut filler in the tobacco rod of a combustible smoking article, such as a filter cigarette, cigarillo or cigar. Alternatively, the tobacco composition may be used as to provide the tobacco aerosol forming substrate in a smoking article wherein one such substrate is heated rather than combusted. Known heated smoking articles include, for example, smoking articles in which an aerosol is generated by electrical heating or by the transfer of heat from a combustible fuel element or heat source to an aerosol forming substrate. In these articles, during smoking, volatile compounds are released from the aerosol forming substrate by heat transfer from the heat source and entrained in air drawn through the smoking article. As the released compounds cool, they condense to form an aerosol that is inhaled by the consumer. Also known are smoking articles in which a nicotine-containing aerosol is generated from a tobacco material, tobacco extract, or other nicotine source, without combustion, and in some cases without heating, for example through a chemical reaction. Alternatively, the tobacco composition may be used as fine cut for a roll-your-own product, a make-your-own product, or loose tobacco product for example, for use in a pipe.

Smoking articles comprising cut filler according to the invention may be packaged in containers, for example, containers formed of one or more folded laminar blanks. Suitable containers include but are not limited to hinge lid containers and slide and shell containers.

Claims

1 . A method of treating cloves for use in tobacco cut filler, the method comprising the steps of:

conditioning the cloves to increase the moisture content;

rolling the cloves to a thickness of between 0.05 millimetres and 0.4 millimetres, wherein the cloves are rolled between two counter-rotating having a different surface speed to each other; and

cutting the cloves.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the cutting step comprises cutting the rolled cloves to a cut width of at least about 0.1 millimetres.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the cutting step comprises cutting the rolled cloves to a cut width of less than about 1.2 millimetres.

4. A method according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the cutting step comprises cutting the rolled cloves to a cut width of less than about 0.8 millimetres.

5. A method according to any preceding claim wherein during the conditioning step the moisture content of the cloves is increased to 35% oven volatiles (O.V.) or less.

6. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the conditioning step comprises contacting the cloves with steam, water or a mixture of steam and water.

7. A method according to any preceding claim wherein the differential in surface speed between the two counter-rotating rollers is at least 5 percent.

8. A method according to any preceding claim wherein during the rolling step a compressive force of at least about 50 tonnes is applied to the cloves.

9. A method according to any preceding claim wherein during the rolling step a compressive force of less than about 200 tonnes is applied to the cloves.

10. A method according to any preceding claim further comprising the step of drying the cut rolled cloves such that the moisture content of the cut rolled cloves is reduced to between about 10 percent oven volatiles and about 18 percent oven volatiles.

1 1 . A method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 further comprising the step of drying the cut rolled cloves such that the moisture content of the cut rolled cloves is reduced to between about 12 percent oven volatiles and about 14 percent oven volatiles.

12. A method according to any preceding claim further comprising the step of combining the cut rolled cloves with tobacco material.

13. A method of producing cut filler comprising cut rolled tobacco stalks, the method comprising:

treating cloves using a method according to any preceding claim; and

blending the cut rolled cloves with at least one of tobacco lamina, tobacco stems and reconstituted tobacco.

14. A tobacco cut filler for a smoking article comprising at least 1 % by weight of cut rolled cloves.

15. A smoking article comprising the tobacco cut filler according to claim 14.