Pouch

Abstract

A nicotine pouch 1 comprises rooibos, wherein the rooibos is a plant (Aspalathus linearis), and may be incorporated as an extract, or a part or a leaf, and may be dried and or heat-treated. The rooibo

Description

This invention relates to pouches, in particular nicotine pouches. In particular, the invention relates to pouches containing nicotine and desired natural or herbal ingredients. Nicotine can be an addictive substance. It is the main component of tobacco, and many countries are discouraging the consumption of tobacco, either in snuff (powdered tobacco that is inhaled nasally or placed in the nose, often with fingers), as well as chewing tobacco. However, tobacco is one of the main ingredients of cigars and cigarettes, and most countries are now banning smoking for political and health reasons, not only for adults (in certain places, in particular public places such as pubs, shops, offices etc.) but also by minors. Smoking has therefore seen increasing levels of legal restrictions in many countries throughout the world. However, many people still enjoy the taste, flavour or presence of tobacco. Whilst vaporisers, or vapes, have seen a rapid increase in use and popularity, and often contain nicotine, such vaporisers are expensive, need batteries for power and are often also banned in many public places as well as certain forms of transport (such as aircraft). Therefore, there is a need to develop nicotine containing products that are less likely to be socially unacceptable or banned or restricted by legislation. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a nicotine pouch comprising Rooibos. Suitably the pouch will be non-woven or fleece. It will preferably comprise a porous sealed bag. It will be porous to suitably allow the ingress of liquid (such as saliva) and or the egress of liquid (such as saliva, containing any components that have dissolved (into the saliva) inside the pouch). The pouch will suitably be an oral product. It is therefore intended to be used orally, such as placed in the mouth. It may touch, abut or be placed next to or on the lips, gums or cheek. It may be suitable therefore for being placed, preferably unobtrusively, under a lip, or next to a gum, or beside a cheek. In this way the pouch, of suitably the correct dimensions, may be almost invisible, or it will not be noticed by another person. The pouch suitably comprises a porous exterior or bag, which is suitably made out of or comprises a crystalline cellulose fibre. It may therefore resemble a teabag. In fact, preferred pouches are made of a same or similar substance to a teabag. Of course, teabags retain tea (often in the form of leaves) and allow the ingress of (hot or boiling) water, and the egress of water containing dissolved ingredients or components from the tea. A pouch can work in a similar way to a tea bag. It is porous, so can allow the ingress of a liquid, usually saliva. Inside the pouch is a (usually solid) substance or material. This may dissolve in saliva, releasing one or more ingredients or components into the saliva. The pouch will thus suitably contain a (generally solid) dissolvable, or soluble, material or substance. The substance will usually contain Rooibos, or a part (such as a leaf) or an extract thereof. Rooibos is an organic herb and is suitably from a sustainable source. Rooibos comprises the plant Aspalathus linearis. The Rooibos may be heat treated, or dried, or both. The Rooibos may comprise leaves. The pouch may therefore work as a tisane (like herbal tea). Rooibos usually comprises ascorbic acid and one or more antioxidants. It may have a low tannin content. Suitably, the amount of Rooibos (e.g. in the solid substance) is from 0.4, 0.5 or optimally 0.6, up to 0.9, 0.8 or optimally 0.7 grams per pouch. It may this be present at from 35%, 40& or 45% up to 60%, 55% or 50%. The solid substance contained within the pouch preferably contains nicotine. This may be at a concentration from 5, 10, or optimally 15 up to 25, 20 or 17 milligrams per gram (mg / g). The soluble substance may comprise one or more other ingredients. These may comprise a flavouring(s), aroma(s), preservative(s), pH adjusting agent, sweetener, humectant, other food grade substance(s). Preferred flavourings include honey and lemon, (pepper)mint, black cherry, coffee, and / or citrus. Preferably the substance comprises salt, for example NaCI, suitably from 0.5%, 1.0% or optimally 1.5% to 6.0%, 4.5% or optimally 3.5%. The flavouring(s) may comprise less than 1% of the soluble substance. If a preservative is present, this is suitably sodium benzoate (E211). If a humectant is present, this may be from 0.5%, 1 % or optimally 1.5% up to 5%, 4% or optimally 3%. The humectant may comprise a glycerol and / or propylene glycol. The substance may also comprise sodium bicarbonate, for example at an amount from 0.8%, 1.0%, optimally 1.2% up to 5%, 4% or optimally 3%. The pouch will therefore be tobacco free. It may not contain any tobacco, either leaf dust or stem. It may thus allow or assist a smoker to quit smoking, or cause a reduction or stop (cessation) in smoking. The pouch may also reduce stress and / or anxiety. Suitably the pouch will be circular, square, or (most advantageously) rectangular in shape. It will usually be of a sufficient size that it can be unobtrusively placed in the mouth. Suitably it will have a size of from 1cm, 2cm, or 3cm by 3cm, 2cm or 1cm. If it is a rectangular in shape, then it is suitably from 2.5 to 3.5cm long by 0.5 to 1.5cm wide. The pouch will be designed so that the contents stay inside, especially when not in use. However, during use, the pouch will usually be placed in the mouth, and the solid substance (inside the pouch) will soften and / or dissolve, such as in the saliva. This substance will therefore release one or more of the ingredients or components into the saliva. The saliva will be able to ingress the pouch through pores (e.g., in the porous bag). Saliva (containing one or more of the ingredients or components) from the substance) can then egress through said pores. The solid substance may comprise a plant-based fibre and / or be from a gum base. A second aspect of the present invention comprises a method for manufacturing a nicotine pouch, the method comprising encasing or encapsulating a solid substance, which is dissolvable or soluble (and comprises nicotine and Rooibos) into, or within, a porous sealed bag (such as a pouch). The invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying examples, which are not intended to be limiting. Example 1 A nicotine pouch was manufactured, shown in Figure 1. This shows a pouch with a crystalline cellulose fibre container in a rectangular shape, approximate dimensions 3cm x 1cm. The pouch is porous and is designed to be placed in the mouth, and therefore used orally. The pouch has a porous sealed bag which allows the ingress of saliva, when the pouch is placed in the mouth. It can be placed under a lip, or next to a cheek, and can rest against the gums. Inside the porous bag is a soluble substance containing nicotine and Rooibos. The content of the solid substance is as follows: Rooibos 0.6g per pouch, approx. 50% Nicotine 16mg / per gram Sodium Chloride 1.5% Flavouring: mint Preservative: B211 sodium benzoate Humectant (1.2% glycerol) sodium bicarbonate (1.5%) water 35% The ingredients of the solid inner substance were mixed together in a mixing machine, with a gum base and food grade fillers, as appropriate. It was then extruded into of a rectangular shaped bar (of dimensions so that it comfortably fitted inside a 3cm x 1cm rectangular porous sealed bag of crystalline cellulose fibre). The bar was inserted into the pouch using a packaging machine. Example 2 The pouch as described in Example 1 was made, except the following amendments and substitutions: Sodium Chloride 2% Flavouring: honey and lemon Potassium Sorbate Humectant 2% (propylene glycol) Sodium Bicarbonate 3% Water 40% Rooibos 47% Example 3 A pouch was made as described in Example 1, except the amount of Sodium Chloride was 3.5%, the flavouring was black cherry, the humectant was 2.5% glycerol and water content 37%. Example 4 A nicotine containing pouch as described in Example 1 was made except for the Sodium Chloride content was .3.5%, the flavouring was coffee, there was additionally a pH adjusting agent, sodium bicarbonate was present at 2.5%. Rooibos was 53%. Figure 1 shows a nicotine containing pouch of the invention. It is a non-woven pouch that contains nicotine, Rooibos and suitable flavourings and aromas. As will be seen, it is rectangular in shape. 5 The pouch 1 has an outer crystalline cellulose fibre packet 2 which is a porous sealed bag, and allows the ingress of a liquid, such as saliva, and the egress of a liquid, such as saliva, containing one or more of the ingredients of the dissolvable or soluble substance inside the pouch 3. io The pouch is a rectangular in size and contains a solid substance that has both the nicotine and the Rooibos. Pouches of the invention in different embodiments (varying in sizes, shapes and construction) are shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. 15

Claims

1. A nicotine pouch comprising Rooibos.

2. A pouch according to claim 1 which is a porous (sealed) bag (or packet) and / or comprises a crystalline cellulose porous fibre container.

3. A pouch according to claim 1 or 2 which allows ingress of a liquid (such as saliva) and egress of a liquid (such as saliva).

4. A pouch according to any preceding claim which is non-dissolvable, is nonwoven, or has a fleece bag.

5. A pouch according to any preceding claim which is for oral use, or intended to be placed in the mouth, suitably touching or abutting lips, gums and / or cheek.

6. A pouch according to any preceding claim which comprises Rooibos extract, part of Rooibos plant (Aspalathus linearis) such as a leaf, dry or dried leaf, or heat-treated part of the plant.

7. A pouch according to any preceding claim which comprises 0.4 to 0.9, such as 0.5 to 0.8, optimally 0.6 to 0.7grams Rooibos per pouch.

8. A pouch according to any preceding claim which contains from 10 to 25 such as 14 to 20, optimally 15 to 18 milligrams per gram of Nicotine.

9. A pouch according to any preceding claim wherein the encapsulated soluble substance comprises one or more of the following ingredients:a. A flavouring or aromab. A preservativec. A pH adjusting agent; and / ord. A sweetener and / or a humectant10. A pouch according to any preceding claim which comprises a flavouring which is honey and lemon, mint, black cherry, coffee, and / or citrus.

11. A pouch according to any preceding claim which has a preservative which comprises Sodium Benzoate.12.A pouch according to any preceding claim which comprises a humectant, preferably glycerol and / or propylene glycol, suitably at a concentration of from 1.5 to 3%.

13. A pouch according to any preceding claim which comprises potassium sorbate and / or sodium bicarbonate.

14. A pouch according to any preceding claim which does not contain any tobacco (either in leaf dust or stem form).

15. A method for manufacturing a nicotine pouch, the process comprising encapsulating a soluble or dissolvable substance which comprises nicotine and5 Rooibos into a porous bag.

16. A method according to claim 15 which produces a pouch according to any of claims 1-14.io

Images