Carbohydrate tablet and method of fabrication

A method for fabricating an edible energy tablet containing at least 80 weight % carbohydrates for consumption during exercise, said method comprising:

• (a) providing tablet material being free of hydrophobic and/or PEG lubricants and being free of CO2 sources;
• the tablet material including:
• a sucrose and dextrose mixture of 77-95 wt. %;
• maltodextrin of 2-13 wt. %;
• an edible soluble oil of 0.2-2.0 wt. %;
• edible acid of 1-4 wt. %;
• and
• flavor 0.5-3 wt. %;
• (b) providing a tablet press including:
• at least one die circuitously moveable about the press and adapted for receiving tablet materials therein;
• a first punch and a second punch each having a working face free of external lubricants, said first and second punches being circuitously moveable with, and being adapted for operative engagement with, said at least one die;
• a punch movement device adapted to alternately move at least one of said first and second punches relatively towards and away from an other of said first and second punches to alternately compress the tablet material in said at least one die to form the tablet, and release the tablet;
• a punch cleaner having resilient bristles disposable in simultaneous operative engagement with each of said working faces of said first and second punches to remove tablet material from said working faces after each of said first and second punches has released said tablet;
• (c) introducing the tablet material in the form of powder or granules to the at least one die;
• (d) moving the at least one of said first and second punches relatively towards the other of said first and second punches to compress the tablet material within the at least one die to form the tablet;
• (e) moving the at least one of said first and second punches relatively away from the other of said first and second punches to release the tablet;
• and
• (f) automatically engaging the punch cleaner with said first and second punches to remove tablet material therefrom;
• and
• (g) sizing and shaping the die and the first and second punches wherein said tablet has a diameter in a range of about 0.5 to 1.5 inches (1.2 to 3.8 cm), a thickness within a range of about 0.25 inch to 0.7 inch (0.7 cm to 1.3 cm), and a resistance to breakage forces within a range of from 15 to 30 kilopounds;
• and
• said tablet material has a grit size in a range of about 930 to 3460 microns.