Flavor releasing cores and their use in chewing gum

A method of making a long flavor duration releasing structure for chewing gum comprising:

• a) preparing a blend comprising a thermoplastic cellulose material, a non-cellulosic thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene, and mixtures thereof, and a porous flavor reservoir material to form a generally homogeneous composition comprising about 30% to about 60% thermoplastic cellulose material, about 5% to about 50% non-cellulosic thermoplastic polymer, and about 10% to about 40% porous flavor reservoir material;
• b) mixing the blend and melting the non-cellulosic thermoplastic polymer and thermoplastic cellulose material in an extruder to form a flavor releasing composition;
• c) extruding and cooling the flavor releasing composition;
• d) sizing the cooled flavor releasing composition;
• and
• e) incorporating flavor into the flavor releasing composition to form flavor releasing cores;
• wherein the non-cellulosic thermoplastic in the long flavor duration releasing structure helps maintain the consistency of the gum during chewing.