Method for enhancing sweetness of cigarette smoke based on sweetness synergistic effect
By leveraging the synergistic effect of sugars and high-intensity sweeteners, the problem of monotonous and unbalanced sweetness in cigarettes has been solved, resulting in a more natural and richer sweetness experience. This approach reduces costs and safety risks and is suitable for customized sweetening of various cigarette styles.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- CHINA TOBACCO HENAN IND CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2026-04-09
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-12
AI Technical Summary
Existing technologies for sweeteners in cigarettes suffer from problems such as a single sweetness, incompatibility with smoke, poor thermal stability, and high cost, making it difficult to effectively enhance the sweetness experience of cigarettes.
A synergistic sweetener is formed by synergistic compounding of sugars and high-intensity sweeteners in a specific ratio and applied to the cigarette carrier by spraying, impregnation or coating the cigarette material. The cigarette is then balanced and rolled into cigarettes under specific conditions.
It achieves a significant increase in sweetness intensity at a lower addition level, resulting in a more natural and richer sweetness with good coordination with smoke, reducing costs and potential safety risks, and overcoming the shortcomings of single sweeteners.
Smart Images
Figure CN122004515A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of cigarette manufacturing technology, and more specifically, to a method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness. Background Technology
[0002] In cigarette product design, sensory quality is paramount. Sweetness, as a key positive flavor indicator, can effectively soften smoke, mask impurities and harshness, and enhance the smoothness and comfort of smoking. Therefore, developing effective sweetness enhancement technologies is of great significance.
[0003] Currently, the main way to enhance sweetness in the industry is by using single or simple combinations of high-efficiency sweeteners, such as sucralose, thomaline, and ammonium glycyrrhizate. However, these methods have significant limitations: 1. Monotonous sweetness and a significant threshold effect: The sweetness profile provided by a single sweetener is monotonous, and once a certain concentration (threshold) is reached, further increasing the dosage has limited effect on improving the sweetness intensity and can easily lead to unpleasant sensations such as bitterness or metallic taste; 2. Poor coordination with cigarette smoke: The sweetness characteristics of many high-efficiency sweeteners do not match the complex aroma of tobacco combustion products, causing the sweetness to "float" on top of the smoke, appearing harsh and unnatural, i.e., "fake sweetness"; 3. Thermal stability and safety issues: Some sweeteners may decompose under the high-temperature environment of cigarette combustion, producing uncertain products, and their inhalation safety needs to be more comprehensively evaluated; 4. Cost and effect contradiction: The use of large amounts of high-efficiency sweeteners in pursuit of significant effects is costly and may backfire due to negative taste.
[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a method to enhance the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness. Summary of the Invention
[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness, so as to solve the problems in the prior art mentioned above. This method can enhance and improve the sweetness perception when smoking cigarettes through the synergistic effect between specific sweet substances.
[0006] This invention provides a method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on a synergistic effect of sweetness, comprising:
[0007] Preparation of synergistic sweetener: A first sweetener and a second sweetener are compounded at a preset mass ratio, and the compound is dissolved or dispersed in a solvent to form a synergistic sweetener;
[0008] Application of synergistic sweetener: The prepared synergistic sweetener is applied to a cigarette carrier to obtain cigarette material treated with the synergistic sweetener;
[0009] Subsequent processing: The cigarette material treated with the synergistic sweetener is balanced and rolled into cigarettes.
[0010] In the method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness as described above, preferably, the first sweet substance includes sugar or sugar alcohol sweeteners, and the second sweet substance includes non-sugar high-intensity sweeteners or flavor enhancers and sweeteners.
[0011] The method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness as described above, wherein preferably, the first sweetener includes one or more of fructose, glucose, xylose, malt syrup, sorbitol, and maltitol; and the second sweetener includes one or more of sucralose, sematrandezidine, ammonium glycyrrhizate, neohesperidin dihydrochalcone, and ethyl maltol.
[0012] In the method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness as described above, preferably, the mass ratio of the first sweet substance to the second sweet substance is 1:9 to 9:1.
[0013] In the method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness as described above, preferably, the mass ratio of the first sweet substance to the second sweet substance is 1:1 to 5:1.
[0014] In the method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness as described above, preferably, the solvent includes one or more of water, ethanol, propylene glycol, and glycerol.
[0015] In the method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness as described above, preferably, the cigarette carrier includes tobacco shreds, stem shreds, filter tip, or cigarette paper.
[0016] In the method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness as described above, preferably, the amount of the synergistic sweetener applied is 0.01% to 0.8% of the weight of the cigarette material.
[0017] The method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness, as described above, preferably includes the application of the synergistic sweetness agent by spraying, impregnation, coating, or flavoring.
[0018] The method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness, as described above, preferably includes the following balanced conditions: temperature 20°C to 26°C, humidity 55% to 65%, and time 24 to 72 hours.
[0019] This invention provides a method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness. It utilizes the synergistic effect between different sweet substances to enhance and improve the perceived sweetness during cigarette smoking. By carefully selecting a combination of sweet substances that produce a significant synergistic effect, a stronger, more natural, and more harmonious sweetness experience is achieved with a smaller amount added. A significant increase in perceived sweetness is achieved at a lower total addition amount, and the resulting sweetness is more natural, richer, and longer-lasting, with better harmony with the smoke. This effectively overcomes the problems of harsh sweetness, easy aftertaste, and poor integration with smoke associated with single sweeteners. Significant synergistic effect: Through scientific compounding, a multiplier effect of sweetness is achieved, allowing... It achieves higher perceived sweetness with a lower overall addition amount, reducing costs and potential safety risks; it boasts excellent sweetness quality: the synergistic sweetness is richer, more natural, and more rounded, effectively avoiding the monotony and unpleasant aftertaste of a single sweetener, and harmonizing with the tobacco aroma; it has good thermal stability: in the selected combination, the pairing of natural sugars with specific high-intensity sweeteners can stably release sweetness under cigarette burning conditions, and the degradation products are relatively clear; it offers strong application flexibility: it is easy to operate and suitable for improving the sweetness quality of various cigarette products. The types and proportions of the first and second sweeteners can be flexibly adjusted according to the needs of different cigarette styles (such as flue-cured, blended, and menthol cigarettes) to achieve customized sweetening. Attached Figure Description
[0020] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0021] Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness provided by the present invention. Detailed Implementation
[0022] Various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The descriptions of the exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative and are in no way intended to limit the present disclosure or its application or use. The present disclosure may be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. These embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully express the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. It should be noted that, unless specifically stated otherwise, the relative arrangement of components and steps, the composition of materials, numerical expressions, and values set forth in these embodiments should be interpreted as exemplary only and not as limiting.
[0023] The terms “first,” “second,” and similar terms used in this disclosure do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different parts. Terms such as “including” or “contains” mean that the element preceding the term encompasses the element listed after it, and do not exclude the possibility of encompassing other elements as well. Terms such as “above” and “below” are used only to indicate relative positional relationships; when the absolute position of the described object changes, this relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.
[0024] In this disclosure, when a specific component is described as being located between a first component and a second component, an intermediary component may or may not be present between the specific component and the first or second component. When a specific component is described as connecting to other components, the specific component may be directly connected to the other components without having an intermediary component, or it may not be directly connected to the other components but may have an intermediary component.
[0025] All terms used in this disclosure (including technical or scientific terms) have the same meaning as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains, unless otherwise specifically defined. It should also be understood that terms defined in a general dictionary, such as a dictionary, should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art, and not as having an idealized or highly formalized meaning, unless expressly defined herein.
[0026] Techniques, methods, and equipment known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, they should be considered part of the specification.
[0027] Sweetness synergy refers to the phenomenon where the perceived sweetness of a mixture of two or more sweet substances exceeds the simple sum of the sweetness of each component when used individually, resulting in a "1+1>2" effect. This effect can originate from the interaction between different sweet molecules and different binding sites on sweet taste receptors (T1R2 / T1R3), or it can be achieved by influencing taste signal transduction pathways. Although synergistic effects have been applied in the food industry, in the unique pyrolysis inhalation system of cigarettes, how to screen for specific combinations of sweet substances that produce stable and significant synergistic effects and are highly coordinated with cigarette smoke, and how to develop an effective application method, remains a topic that requires further research and development.
[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, the method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness provided in this embodiment includes the following steps in actual implementation:
[0029] Step S1: Preparation of synergistic sweetener: The first sweetener and the second sweetener are compounded according to a preset mass ratio, and the compound is dissolved or dispersed in a solvent to form a synergistic sweetener.
[0030] The first sweetener includes sugars or sugar alcohols, and the second sweetener includes non-sugar high-intensity sweeteners or flavor enhancers and sweeteners. Specifically, the first sweetener includes one or more of fructose, glucose, xylose, malt syrup, sorbitol, and maltitol; the second sweetener includes one or more of sucralose, thomatose, ammonium glycyrrhizate, neohesperidin dihydrochalcone, and ethyl maltol.
[0031] Furthermore, the solvent includes one or more of water, ethanol, propylene glycol, and glycerol.
[0032] In one embodiment of the present invention, the mass ratio of the first sweetener to the second sweetener is 1:9 to 9:1, preferably 1:1 to 5:1.
[0033] The mechanism of action of this invention utilizes the synergistic effect between different types of sweeteners. The first sweetener (such as natural sugars) typically provides a mild, natural sweet base, but with a lower sweetness level; the second sweetener (such as high-intensity sweeteners or flavor enhancers) has a high sweetness level or can enhance the perceived sweetness. When the two are combined in a specific ratio, they may produce a synergistic effect through the following pathways: a) simultaneously binding to different sites on sweet taste receptors, producing a superadditive effect; b) the second sweetener alters the flavor dynamics of the first sweetener, causing its sweetness to be released more quickly or last longer; c) substances such as ethyl maltol not only provide sweetness but also enhance the overall flavor through flavor enhancement, indirectly increasing the richness of the sweetness. This synergistic effect results in a significant increase in perceived sweetness, a more complex sweetness profile, and a sweetness profile closer to natural sweetness, even with a constant or reduced total amount added, leading to a higher degree of integration with cigarette smoke.
[0034] Step S2: Applying the synergistic sweetener: The prepared synergistic sweetener is applied to the cigarette carrier to obtain cigarette material treated with the synergistic sweetener.
[0035] The cigarette carrier includes tobacco shreds, stem shreds, filter tips, or cigarette paper. The amount of the synergistic sweetener applied is 0.01% to 0.8% of the weight of the cigarette material. The synergistic sweetener can be applied by spraying, impregnation, coating, or flavoring.
[0036] Specifically, the synergistic sweetener prepared in step S1 is applied to the cigarette material at a ratio of 0.01% to 0.8% of the weight of tobacco shreds, stems, filters, or cigarette paper, by spraying, impregnation, coating, or flavoring.
[0037] Step S3, Post-processing: The cigarette material treated with the synergistic sweetener is balanced and rolled into cigarettes.
[0038] The conditions for achieving equilibrium include: temperature 20℃~26℃, humidity 55%~65%, and time 24 hours~72 hours.
[0039] Example 1: Preparation of synergistic sweetener and its application in flue-cured cigarettes.
[0040] Specifically, 4.0g of fructose (the primary sweetener) and 1.0g of sucralose (the secondary sweetener) are weighed and dissolved together in 95g of 50% ethanol aqueous solution. The mixture is stirred thoroughly until completely dissolved to obtain a synergistic sweetener solution A with a mass concentration of 5%.
[0041] Take 1000g of flue-cured tobacco shreds and use a feeding machine to evenly spray 15g of solution A (addition amount 0.15%) onto the tobacco shreds. After equilibration at 22℃ and 60% humidity for 48 hours, roll the tobacco into cigarettes.
[0042] Effect evaluation:
[0043] A professional evaluation panel (7 members) conducted a sensory evaluation of the cigarettes produced in Example 1. Each indicator was scored over a 5-minute period (1-worst, 5-best), and the average result was taken. Two comparative examples were also set up: Comparative Example 1: a blank cigarette without any added sweeteners; Comparative Example 2: a cigarette with added sucralose (equivalent to the total sweetness in Example 1) (preliminary experiments confirmed that its sweetness was comparable to the sweetness after the synergistic effect in Example 1). The evaluation results are recorded in Table 1. As shown in Table 1, Example 1, while achieving the same or even higher sweetness intensity as Comparative Example 2, exhibited significant advantages in the naturalness, persistence, and harmony with the smoke, demonstrating the effectiveness and superiority of the synergistic effect.
[0044] Table 1 Comparison of absorption indicators between Example 1 and the comparative example
[0045]
[0046] Example 2: Preparation of synergistic sweetener and its application in cool-flavored cigarettes.
[0047] Specifically, 2.5g of sorbitol (the primary sweetener) and 2.5g of ethyl maltol (the secondary sweetener) were weighed and dissolved together in a 1:1 mixture of 95g of propylene glycol and water to obtain a synergistic sweetener solution B with a mass concentration of 5%.
[0048] Take 1000g of chilled cigarette tobacco, spray with 20g of solution B (addition amount 0.2%), and roll it after balancing with the conditions in Example 1.
[0049] Example 3: Preparation of synergistic sweetener and its application in cigarette paper.
[0050] Specifically, 3.0g of glucose (the primary sweetener) and 0.5g of thomaline (the secondary sweetener) are weighed and mixed evenly to form a solid powder. This powder is then applied to cigarette paper at a ratio of 0.08% by weight of the cigarette paper using a coating process.
[0051] Use this cigarette paper to roll regular cigarettes.
[0052] The method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness provided in this invention utilizes the synergistic effect between different sweet substances to enhance and improve the perception of sweetness during cigarette smoking. By carefully selecting a combination of sweet substances that can produce a significant synergistic effect, a stronger, more natural, and more harmonious sweetness experience can be achieved with a smaller amount added. A significant improvement in perceived sweetness is achieved with a lower total addition amount, and the resulting sweetness is more natural, richer, and longer-lasting, with better coordination with the smoke. This effectively overcomes the problems of harsh sweetness, easy generation of aftertaste, and poor integration with smoke caused by single sweeteners. Significant synergistic effect: Through scientific compounding, a multiplier effect of sweetness is achieved. It allows for higher perceived sweetness with lower overall addition amounts, reducing costs and potential safety risks; excellent sweetness quality: the synergistic sweetness is richer, more natural and rounder, effectively avoiding the monotony and unpleasant aftertaste of a single sweetener, and harmonizing with the tobacco aroma; good thermal stability: in the selected combination, the combination of natural sugars and specific high-intensity sweeteners can stably release sweetness under cigarette burning conditions, and the degradation products are relatively clear; strong application flexibility: it is easy to operate and suitable for improving the sweetness quality of various cigarette products. The types and proportions of the first and second sweet substances can be flexibly adjusted according to the needs of different cigarette styles (such as flue-cured, blended, and menthol cigarettes) to achieve customized sweetening.
[0053] The embodiments of this disclosure have now been described in detail. To avoid obscuring the concept of this disclosure, some details known in the art have not been described. Those skilled in the art can fully understand how to implement the technical solutions disclosed herein based on the above description.
[0054] While specific embodiments of this disclosure have been described in detail by way of examples, those skilled in the art should understand that the examples are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can be made to the above embodiments or equivalent substitutions can be made to some technical features without departing from the scope and spirit of this disclosure. The scope of this disclosure is defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness, characterized in that, include: Preparation of synergistic sweetener: A first sweetener and a second sweetener are compounded at a preset mass ratio, and the compound is dissolved or dispersed in a solvent to form a synergistic sweetener; Application of synergistic sweetener: The prepared synergistic sweetener is applied to a cigarette carrier to obtain cigarette material treated with the synergistic sweetener; Subsequent processing: The cigarette material treated with the synergistic sweetener is balanced and rolled into cigarettes.
2. The method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first sweetener includes sugars or sugar alcohols as sweeteners, and the second sweetener includes non-sugar high-intensity sweeteners or flavor enhancers and sweeteners.
3. The method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first sweetener includes one or more of fructose, glucose, xylose, malt syrup, sorbitol, and maltitol; the second sweetener includes one or more of sucralose, sematrandole, ammonium glycyrrhizate, neohesperidin dihydrochalcone, and ethyl maltol.
4. The method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mass ratio of the first sweetener to the second sweetener is 1:9 to 9:
1.
5. The method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness according to claim 4, characterized in that, The mass ratio of the first sweetener to the second sweetener is 1:1 to 5:
1.
6. The method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness according to claim 1, characterized in that, The solvent includes one or more of water, ethanol, propylene glycol, and glycerol.
7. The method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cigarette carrier includes tobacco shreds, stem shreds, filter tips, or cigarette paper.
8. The method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness according to claim 1, characterized in that, The amount of the synergistic sweetener applied is 0.01% to 0.8% of the weight of the cigarette material.
9. The method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness according to claim 1, characterized in that, The synergistic sweetener can be applied by spraying, impregnation, coating, or adding fragrance.
10. The method for enhancing the sweetness of cigarette smoke based on the synergistic effect of sweetness according to claim 1, characterized in that, The conditions for equilibrium include: temperature 20℃~26℃, humidity 55%~65%, and time 24 hours~72 hours.