Back to results
US 4,607,646 AGranted
Process for modifying the smoke flavor characteristics of tobacco
AssigneePhilip Morris Incorporated
InventorsA. Clifton Lilly, Jr., Henry B. Merritt, Cassandra D. Owens
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Burley tobacco when cured is sought after as a component of commercial cigarette blends. The inventors have found that, to avoid its less desirable features, one may replace Burley with cured bright tobacco which has been heated in the presence of ammonia at moderate temperature.
Claims10
A method for modifying the smoke flavor characteristics or non-burley tobacco to impart thereto burley-like smoke flavor characteristics, comprising the steps of:
- a. contacting the non-burley tobacco with ammonia in a pressure-controlled system to provide sufficient pressure to maintan the continuing presence of ammonia;
- and
- b. reacting said ammonia with natural sugars in said tobacco by heating said tobacco and ammonia to a temperature of between about 80.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C. to impart burley-like smoke flavor characteristics to said tobacco and retain therein substantially all volatile tobacco components.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.