Thermally releasable flavor source for smoking articles

A flavor generator for use in a smoking article, said smoking article having a heat source and a mouth end, said flavor generator comprising:

• a chamber having a first opening and a second opening, the first and second openings being connected by nonporous material so as to create a flow passageway;
• a plurality of non densified pellets comprising a mixture of from about 15 to about 95 wt.% tobacco particles having a particle size of up to about 20 mesh, from about 0 to about 50 wt.% filler material particles having a particle size of up to about 100 mesh, and from about 5 to abut 35 wt.% aerosol precursor;
• and
• means for securing the pellets in the flow passageway so that said flow passageway is adapted for fluid communication with said mouth end and said heat source.

A method of making a thermally releasable tobacco-containing material for use in a smoking article comprising:

• mixing together from about 15 to about 95 wt.% tobacco particles having a particle size of up to about 20 mesh, from about 0 to about 50 wt.% filler material particles having a particle size of up to about 100 mesh, from about 0 to about 5 wt.% of a lubricating material, and from about 5 to about 35 wt.% aerosol precursor;
• extruding the mixture through a die to form a strand;
• and
• severing the strand into substantially uniform lengths, thereby forming non-densified pellets for use in a smoking article.