Tobacco filler, flavoring inhalant, and method for manufacturing tobacco filler

Abstract

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a tobacco filler with flexibility in content of the ratio (ratio of % by mass of three saccharides / % by mass of three amino acids) of % by mass of three saccharides relative to % by mass of three amino acids in the form of tobacco sheet.　A tobacco filler, comprising a first tobacco sheet, a second tobacco sheet or a combination thereof, wherein the first tobacco sheet and the second tobacco sheet respectively comprise three saccharides selected from the group consisting of glucose, fructose, sucrose and a mixture thereof and three amino acids selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine and a mixture thereof, the first tobacco sheet has a ratio (% by mass of three saccharides / % by mass of three amino acids) of % by mass of the three saccharides relative to % by mass of the three amino acids of 50 or more and the second tobacco sheet has a ratio (% by mass of three saccharides / % by mass of three amino acids) of % by mass of the three saccharides relative to % by mass of the three amino acids of 20 or less.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a tobacco filler, a flavor attracting article, and a method for manufacturing a tobacco filler.

Background Art

[0002] In a combustion type flavor attracting article (cigarette), a tobacco-containing segment including a tobacco filler containing leaf tobacco is burned to obtain a flavor. As an alternative to the combustion type flavor attracting article, a non-combustion heating type flavor attracting article that obtains a flavor by heating instead of burning a tobacco-containing segment has been proposed. The heating temperature of the non-combustion heating type flavor attracting article is lower than the combustion temperature of the combustion type flavor attracting article, for example, about 400°C or lower. Thus, since the heating temperature of the non-combustion heating type flavor attracting article is low, from the viewpoint of increasing the amount of smoke, an aerosol generating agent such as glycerin is added to the tobacco filler in the non-combustion heating type flavor attracting article. The aerosol generating agent is vaporized by heating to generate an aerosol. Since the aerosol is supplied to the user together with tobacco components, the user can obtain a sufficient flavor.

[0003] In the tobacco-containing segment of the non-combustion heating type flavor attracting article, in order to enable the tobacco filler to contain a sufficient amount of the aerosol generating agent, a tobacco filler filled with a tobacco sheet instead of leaf tobacco is usually used as the tobacco filler (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0004] In addition, sugars (trisaccharides) selected from the group consisting of glucose, fructose, sucrose, and mixtures thereof or amino acids (triamino acids) selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, and mixtures thereof may be added to the tobacco filler.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

[0006] As mentioned above, tobacco sheets are useful as tobacco fillers because they can contain a sufficient amount of aerosol-generating agent. However, manufacturing tobacco sheets requires a lot of work and time, which tends to increase manufacturing costs. When characterizing a product by changing the ratio of the mass percentage of trisaccharides to the mass percentage of triamino acids contained in the tobacco filler (hereinafter referred to as the "ratio of mass percentage of trisaccharides / mass percentage of triamino acids"), it is necessary to manufacture separate tobacco sheets each time to match the trisaccharide and triamino acid content of each product. From the standpoint of the aforementioned amount of work and manufacturing costs, it tends to be difficult to flexibly change the ratio of mass percentage of trisaccharides / mass percentage of triamino acids to characterize products, as is the case with conventional cigarettes.

[0007] In view of these circumstances, the object of the present invention is to provide a tobacco filler in the form of a tobacco sheet in which the ratio of the mass % of trisaccharides to the mass % of triamino acids can be flexibly changed. Furthermore, another objective of the present invention is to provide a tobacco filler that allows for flexible adjustment of the ratio of the mass percentage of trisaccharides to the mass percentage of triamino acids, as well as the ability to control the flavor according to the characteristics of the product. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The inventors of the present invention have diligently conducted research to solve the above problems and have found that the above problems can be solved by using a first tobacco sheet, a second tobacco sheet, or a combination thereof, in which the ratio of the mass percentage of trisaccharides to the mass percentage of three amino acids is within a specific numerical range, and have completed the present invention. Specific embodiments of the present invention are as follows.

[0009] [1] Tobacco filler, A first tobacco sheet, a second tobacco sheet, or a combination thereof, The first tobacco sheet and the second tobacco sheet are Trisaccharides selected from the group consisting of glucose, fructose, sucrose, and mixtures thereof, and Three amino acids selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, and mixtures thereof. Includes, In the first tobacco sheet, the ratio of the mass percentage of the trisaccharide to the mass percentage of the three amino acids (mass percentage of trisaccharide / mass percentage of three amino acids) is 50 or more. In the second tobacco sheet, the ratio of the mass percentage of the trisaccharide to the mass percentage of the three amino acids (mass percentage of trisaccharide / mass percentage of three amino acids) is 20 or less. The aforementioned tobacco filler. [2] The tobacco filling according to [1], comprising the first tobacco sheet and the second tobacco sheet. [3] The tobacco filler according to [2], wherein the mass ratio of the first tobacco sheet to the second tobacco sheet is 5:95 to 95:5. [4] The tobacco filler according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the ratio of the mass percentage of the trisaccharide to the mass percentage of the triamino acids (mass percentage of trisaccharide / mass percentage of triamino acids) is 15 to 50, based on the entire tobacco filler. [5] The tobacco filling according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the first tobacco sheet or the second tobacco sheet further comprises 1 to 8% by mass of malic acid. [6] The tobacco filling according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the first tobacco sheet or the second tobacco sheet further comprises an aerosol generating agent. [7] A flavoring inhalant containing the tobacco filling described in any one of [1] to [6]. [8] A non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article, as described in [7]. A method for manufacturing tobacco fillers as described in any one of [9] [1] to [6], A method for producing the tobacco filler, comprising the step of combining the first tobacco sheet and the second tobacco sheet. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The tobacco filler of the present invention can flexibly change the ratio of mass% of trisaccharide to mass% of triamino acid in the form of a tobacco sheet. In some cases, in addition to being able to flexibly change the ratio of mass% of trisaccharide to mass% of triamino acid, the tobacco filler of the present invention can control the flavor according to the characteristics of the product.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a non-combustion heating type smoking system.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, the tobacco filler, flavor inhalation article, and method for manufacturing the tobacco filler of the present application will be described.

[0013] 1. Tobacco filler The tobacco filler of the present invention includes the first tobacco sheet, the second tobacco sheet, or a combination thereof, where the first tobacco sheet and the second tobacco sheet include a trisaccharide selected from the group consisting of glucose, fructose, sucrose, and mixtures thereof and a triamino acid selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, and mixtures thereof and the ratio of the mass% of the trisaccharide to the mass% of the triamino acid (mass% of trisaccharide / mass% of triamino acid) in the first tobacco sheet is 50 or more, and the ratio of the mass% of the trisaccharide to the mass% of the triamino acid (mass% of trisaccharide / mass% of triamino acid) in the second tobacco sheet is 20 or less.

[0014] (First tobacco sheet) Based on the entire first tobacco sheet, the ratio of the mass percentage of the trisaccharide to the mass percentage of the three amino acids (trisaccharide mass percentage / three amino acid mass percentage) contained in the first tobacco sheet is 50 or more, preferably 50 to 120, more preferably 50 to 100, most preferably 50 to 80, or it can also be 60 or more or 70 or more.

[0015] The trisaccharide contained in the first tobacco sheet is selected from the group consisting of glucose, fructose, sucrose, and mixtures thereof, and particularly, glucose, fructose, or mixtures thereof are preferred. The saccharides in this specification refer to all saccharides that are chemically or enzymatically decomposed and have a reducing end.

[0016] The above trisaccharide contained in the first tobacco sheet can be a saccharide derived from tobacco leaves or the like, which is a raw material of the tobacco sheet, a saccharide added from the outside, or a combination thereof. Among these, by making a combination of a saccharide derived from the raw material of the tobacco sheet and a saccharide added from the outside, the amount of the above trisaccharide contained in the first tobacco sheet can be set to a relatively high value.

[0017] The content of the above trisaccharide contained in the first tobacco sheet is not particularly limited, but is preferably 5 to 30% by mass, more preferably 7 to 25% by mass, and most preferably 9 to 20% by mass, based on the entire first tobacco sheet. The content of the above trisaccharide can be measured based on the procedures and measurement methods described in the item (Measurement of the content of three amino acids and trisaccharide) of [Examples].

[0018] The first tobacco sheet contains three amino acids selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, and mixtures thereof. The first tobacco sheet can contain other amino acids other than aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and asparagine, and as such other amino acids, alanine, proline, serine, threonine, and mixtures thereof can be used.

[0019] The three amino acids (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, or a mixture thereof) contained in the first tobacco sheet may be amino acids derived from tobacco leaves, which are the raw materials for the tobacco sheet, amino acids added from an external source, or a combination thereof.

[0020] The content of the three amino acids (total of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and asparagine) contained in the first tobacco sheet, based on the entire first tobacco sheet, is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.12 to 0.80% by mass, more preferably 0.12 to 0.60% by mass, and most preferably 0.15 to 0.50% by mass. The content of the three amino acids can be measured based on the procedure and measurement method described in the section (Measurement of the content of three amino acids and trisaccharides) in [Examples].

[0021] The first tobacco sheet may contain malic acid. The malic acid content in the first tobacco sheet, relative to the entire first tobacco sheet, is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1 to 8% by mass, more preferably 2 to 7% by mass, and most preferably 3 to 6% by mass. By having a malic acid content within the above numerical range, unpleasant flavor inhibition in the oral cavity can be reduced. In this specification, "flavor inhibition" refers to irritation to the mouth or throat during inhalation.

[0022] The first tobacco sheet may further contain an aerosol generating agent. The aerosol generating agent is not particularly limited, but may be glycerin, propylene glycol, polyhydric alcohols such as sorbitol, xylitol, erythritol, triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, or a mixture of two or more of these.

[0023] The amount of aerosol generating agent contained in the first tobacco sheet, relative to the entire first tobacco sheet, is not particularly limited, but is preferably 30% by mass or less, more preferably 5 to 25% by mass, and most preferably 10 to 20% by mass. By having the aerosol generating agent content within the above numerical range, a sufficient amount of aerosol can be secured for smoking without combustion.

[0024] (Second tobacco sheet) Based on the entire second tobacco sheet, the ratio of the mass percentage of the trisaccharide to the mass percentage of the three amino acids contained in the second tobacco sheet (mass percentage of trisaccharide / mass percentage of three amino acids) is 20 or less, preferably 1 to 20, more preferably 1 to 15, most preferably 1 to 10, or it may be 3 to 20 or 5 to 20.

[0025] The trisaccharides contained in the second tobacco sheet may be the compounds described in the section above (first tobacco sheet).

[0026] The trisaccharides (glucose, fructose, sucrose, or a mixture thereof) contained in the second tobacco sheet can be sugars derived from tobacco leaves, which are the raw materials for the tobacco sheet, sugars added from an external source, or a combination thereof. By using sugars derived from the raw materials for the tobacco sheet, the amount of the trisaccharides contained in the second tobacco sheet can be made lower than that of the first tobacco sheet.

[0027] The amount of the above trisaccharides contained in the second tobacco sheet, based on the entire second tobacco sheet, is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0 to 15% by mass, more preferably 1 to 10% by mass, and most preferably 1 to 7% by mass. The amount of the above trisaccharides can be measured based on the procedure and measurement method described in the section (Measurement of the content of triamino acids and trisaccharides) in [Examples].

[0028] The three amino acids contained in the second tobacco sheet may be the compounds described in the section above (first tobacco sheet). The second tobacco sheet may contain other amino acids other than aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and asparagine, such as alanine, proline, serine, threonine, and mixtures thereof.

[0029] The three amino acids (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, or a mixture thereof) contained in the second tobacco sheet may be amino acids derived from tobacco leaves, which are the raw materials for the tobacco sheet, amino acids added from an external source, or a combination thereof.

[0030] The content of the three amino acids (total of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and asparagine) contained in the second tobacco sheet, based on the entire second tobacco sheet, is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.1 to 2.0% by mass, more preferably 0.2 to 1.8% by mass, and most preferably 0.3 to 1.5% by mass. The content of the three amino acids can be measured based on the procedure and measurement method described in the section (Measurement of the content of three amino acids and trisaccharides) in [Examples].

[0031] The second tobacco sheet may contain even more malic acid. The malic acid content in the second tobacco sheet, based on the entire second tobacco sheet, is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1 to 8% by mass, more preferably 2 to 7% by mass, and most preferably 3 to 6% by mass. By having a malic acid content within the above numerical range, unpleasant flavor inhibition in the mouth can be reduced.

[0032] The second tobacco sheet may further contain an aerosol generating agent. The aerosol generating agent is not particularly limited, but any of the compounds described in the above section (First Tobacco Sheet) can be used. The amount of aerosol generating agent contained in the second tobacco sheet, relative to the entire second tobacco sheet, is not particularly limited, but is preferably 30% by mass or less, more preferably 5 to 25% by mass, and most preferably 10 to 20% by mass. By having the aerosol generating agent content within the above numerical range, a sufficient amount of aerosol can be secured for smoking without combustion.

[0033] The first or second tobacco sheet may further contain antioxidants, inulin, or a combination of two or more of these ingredients, in addition to the components described above. By using antioxidants and inulin, TSNA and flavor inhibition can be suppressed.

[0034] The first tobacco sheet or the second tobacco sheet can be obtained by molding a composition containing aged tobacco leaves into a sheet shape. The aged tobacco leaves used in the tobacco sheet are not particularly limited, but examples include those that have been deboned and separated into lamina and midbone. In this specification, "sheet" refers to a shape having a pair of substantially parallel main surfaces and side surfaces.

[0035] The tobacco leaves used as the raw material for the first tobacco sheet are not particularly limited, but can be hot-air dried tobacco, air-dried tobacco, sun-dried tobacco, heated tobacco, or a combination of two or more of these. Among these, hot-air dried tobacco and sun-dried tobacco are preferred. By using hot-air dried tobacco and sun-dried tobacco, a sufficient amount of tobacco-derived sugar is obtained, resulting in a mellow sweetness. The tobacco leaves used as the raw material for the second tobacco sheet are not particularly limited, but can be hot-air dried tobacco, air-dried tobacco, sun-dried tobacco, heated tobacco, or a combination of two or more of these. Among these, hot-air dried tobacco and air-dried tobacco are preferred. By using hot-air dried tobacco and air-dried tobacco, a sufficient amount of tobacco-derived amino acids can be obtained, resulting in a savory flavor.

[0036] The method for forming the first tobacco sheet or the second tobacco sheet is not particularly limited, but for example, tobacco powder, nicotine, flavor enhancer and binder, and optionally an aerosol generator and flavoring can be mixed, water can be added to the mixture and kneaded, and the resulting kneaded material can be formed by known methods such as papermaking, casting, or rolling. Details of various tobacco sheets formed by such methods are disclosed in "The Tobacco Encyclopedia," Tobacco Research Center, March 31, 2009.

[0037] <Tobacco leaves, aged tobacco leaves, and processed tobacco leaves> In this specification, "tobacco leaves" refers to the general term for harvested tobacco leaves before they undergo maturation. Curing is one form of maturation. In contrast, tobacco leaves that have undergone maturation and have not yet been processed into various forms used in tobacco products (such as shredded tobacco, tobacco sheets, or tobacco granules) are referred to as "mature tobacco leaves." Furthermore, mature tobacco leaves that have been processed into various forms used in tobacco products are referred to as "processed tobacco leaves."

[0038] Examples of processed tobacco leaf forms used in tobacco products include "tobacco sheets" obtained by forming a composition containing aged tobacco leaves ground to a predetermined particle size (hereinafter also referred to as "tobacco powder") into a sheet shape.

[0039] (Tobacco filling) The tobacco filling may include a first tobacco sheet and a second tobacco sheet, or may consist of a first tobacco sheet and a second tobacco sheet. The first tobacco sheet may consist of a single first tobacco sheet or a combination of multiple first tobacco sheets. The second tobacco sheet may consist of a single second tobacco sheet or a combination of multiple second tobacco sheets. In the tobacco filler of this embodiment, a first tobacco sheet and a second tobacco sheet are used, each having a different ratio of the mass percentage of trisaccharides to the mass percentage of triamino acids, and the mass ratio of the first tobacco sheet and the second tobacco sheet can be changed as appropriate. In the tobacco filler of this embodiment, changing the mass ratio of the first tobacco sheet and the second tobacco sheet can be easily done during the manufacturing process, and this change allows for more flexible modification of the ratio of the mass percentage of trisaccharides to the mass percentage of triamino acids in the tobacco filler. By including a first tobacco sheet and a second tobacco sheet in the tobacco filling, it is possible to enhance the flavor while suppressing the feeling of flavor inhibition compared to a tobacco filling that uses only one type of tobacco sheet and has a similar ratio of mass% of trisaccharides to mass% of triamino acids in the entire tobacco filling. It is known that heating sugars and amino acids triggers a sugar-amino acid reaction, which significantly generates aromatic compounds such as pyrazines, improving flavor quality. Therefore, trisaccharides and triamino acids are important components for controlling flavor.

[0040] The mass ratio of the first tobacco sheet to the second tobacco sheet in the tobacco filling is not particularly limited, but is preferably 5:95 to 95:5, more preferably 10:90 to 90:10, even more preferably 20:80 to 80:20, and most preferably 40:60 to 60:40. By having the mass ratio of the first tobacco sheet to the second tobacco sheet within the above numerical range, a good sweet and savory flavor can be obtained.

[0041] With respect to the entire tobacco filling, the ratio of the mass percentage of the trisaccharides to the mass percentage of the three amino acids (mass percentage of trisaccharides / mass percentage of three amino acids) is not particularly limited, but is preferably 15 to 50, more preferably 15 to 45, and most preferably 20 to 40. When the ratio of the mass percentage of the trisaccharides to the mass percentage of the three amino acids, with respect to the entire tobacco filling, is within the above numerical range, a good sweetness and savory flavor can be obtained.

[0042] The content of the above trisaccharides (total of glucose, fructose, and sucrose) in the tobacco filling, based on the entire tobacco filling, is not particularly limited, but is preferably 5 to 25% by mass, more preferably 6 to 20% by mass, and most preferably 7 to 15% by mass. The content of the above trisaccharides in the tobacco filling can be calculated from the content of the above trisaccharides in the first tobacco sheet, the content of the above trisaccharides in the second tobacco sheet, and the mass ratio of the first tobacco sheet to the second tobacco sheet in the tobacco filling. If the content of the above trisaccharides is less than 5% by mass, the physiological inhibition of flavor in the oral cavity may be too strong, resulting in an unpleasant aerosol. If the content of the above trisaccharides exceeds 25% by mass, acidity may be imparted to the aerosol, resulting in an unpleasant aerosol.

[0043] The content of the three amino acids (total of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and asparagine) in the tobacco filling, based on the entire tobacco filling, is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.1 to 1.5% by mass, more preferably 0.1 to 1.0% by mass, and most preferably 0.1 to 0.8% by mass. The content of the three amino acids in the tobacco filling can be calculated from the content of the three amino acids in the first tobacco sheet, the content of the three amino acids in the second tobacco sheet, and the mass ratio of the first tobacco sheet to the second tobacco sheet in the tobacco filling.

[0044] Tobacco fillers may further contain malic acid. The malic acid content in the tobacco filling, based on the entire tobacco filling, is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1 to 8% by mass, more preferably 2 to 7% by mass, and most preferably 3 to 6% by mass. Having a malic acid content within the above range can reduce the unpleasant taste and aroma inhibition in the mouth.

[0045] The tobacco filler may further contain an aerosol generating agent. The aerosol generating agent is not particularly limited, but any of the compounds described in the above section (First Tobacco Sheet) can be used. While not particularly limited, 30% by mass or less is preferred, 5 to 25% by mass is more preferred, and 10 to 20% by mass is most preferred. The amount of aerosol generating agent contained in the tobacco filling can be calculated from the amount of aerosol generating agent contained in the first tobacco sheet, the amount of aerosol generating agent contained in the second tobacco sheet, and the mass ratio of the first tobacco sheet to the second tobacco sheet in the tobacco filling. By keeping the aerosol-generating agent content within the above numerical range, a sufficient amount of aerosol can be secured for smoking without combustion.

[0046] Tobacco fillers refer to products in which processed tobacco leaves are filled into a filler in a predetermined manner. The "filler" is the object into which the processed tobacco leaves are filled, and is part of the tobacco product. Examples of fillers include, but are not limited to, cylindrical rolls of rolling paper or containers equipped with air inlets and outlets. Examples of how processed tobacco leaves are filled into a filler include, but are not limited to, a method in which processed tobacco leaves are rolled in rolling paper with the processed tobacco leaves on the inside (hereinafter also referred to as a "tobacco rod"), and a method in which processed tobacco leaves are filled into a flow path of a container equipped with an air inlet and outlet (hereinafter also referred to as a "tobacco cartridge").

[0047] In this application, a tobacco filler consisting of tobacco sheets (a first tobacco sheet and / or a second tobacco sheet) filled into a filler can be used as the tobacco filler.

[0048] 2. Method for manufacturing tobacco fillers The method for manufacturing the tobacco filler described in item "1. Tobacco Filler" of the present invention is as follows: The process includes combining the first tobacco sheet and the second tobacco sheet.

[0049] The components of the tobacco filler, the first tobacco sheet, and the second tobacco sheet described above can be those described in section "1. Tobacco Filler".

[0050] The method for manufacturing a tobacco filling may further include the step of preparing the first tobacco sheet and the second tobacco sheet.

[0051] 3. Flavor suction products The flavor-inhaling article of the present invention includes the tobacco filler described in the "1. Tobacco Filler" section above.

[0052] Flavoring inhalants (smoking products) include flavoring inhalants in which the user enjoys the flavor by inhaling, and smokeless tobacco (smokeless smoking products) in which the user enjoys the flavor by directly placing the product in the nasal cavity or oral cavity. Flavoring inhalants can be broadly classified into combustion-type smoking products, such as conventional cigarettes, and non-combustion-type smoking products.

[0053] Examples of combustible flavor inhalants include cigarettes, pipes, kiseru (Japanese pipes), cigars, or cigarillos.

[0054] Non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation articles (heated smoking articles) may be heated by a heating device separate from the article, or by a heating device integrated with the article. In the former case of flavor inhalation articles (separate type), the non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article and the heating device together are also referred to as a "non-combustion heating type smoking system." An example of a non-combustion heating type smoking system will be described below with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

[0055] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the non-combustion heating type flavor absorbing article 20. As shown in Figure 1, the non-combustion heating type flavor absorbing article 20 (hereinafter simply referred to as "flavor absorbing article 20") has a cylindrical shape. The circumference of the flavor absorbing article 20 is preferably 16 mm to 27 mm, more preferably 20 mm to 26 mm, and even more preferably 21 mm to 25 mm. The total length (horizontal length) of the flavor absorbing article 20 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 40 mm to 90 mm, more preferably 50 mm to 75 mm, and even more preferably 50 mm to 60 mm.

[0056] The flavor inhalation article 20 consists of a smoking segment 20A, a filter section 20C that constitutes the mouthpiece, and a connecting section 20B that connects these.

[0057] The smoking segment 20A is cylindrical, and its total length (axial length) is preferably, for example, 5 to 100 mm, more preferably 10 to 50 mm, and even more preferably 10 to 25 mm. The cross-sectional shape of the smoking segment 20A is not particularly limited, but can be, for example, circular, elliptical, polygonal, etc.

[0058] The smoking segment 20A comprises a smoking composition sheet (tobacco sheet) or a material derived therefrom (tobacco filler) 21 and a wrapper 22 wrapped around it. The smoking composition sheet or material derived therefrom 21 may contain a fragrance.

[0059] The filter section 20C is cylindrical in shape. The filter section 20C has a rod-shaped first segment 25 made of cellulose acetate fibers and a rod-shaped second segment 26 also made of cellulose acetate fibers. The first segment 25 is located on the smoking segment 20A side. The first segment 25 may have a hollow section. The second segment 26 is located on the mouthpiece side. The second segment 26 is solid. The first segment 25 is made of a first filling layer (cellulose acetate fibers) 25a and an inner plug wrapper 25b wound around the first filling layer 25a. The second segment 26 is made of a second filling layer (cellulose acetate fibers) 26a and an inner plug wrapper 26b wound around the second filling layer 26a. The first segment 25 and the second segment 26 are connected by an outer plug wrapper 27. The outer plug wrapper 27 is bonded to the first segment 25 and the second segment 26 with a vinyl acetate emulsion adhesive or the like.

[0060] The length of the filter section 20C can be, for example, 10 to 30 mm, the length of the connecting section 20B can be, for example, 10 to 30 mm, the length of the first segment 25 can be, for example, 5 to 15 mm, and the length of the second segment 26 can be, for example, 5 to 15 mm. The lengths of these individual segments are examples and can be changed as appropriate depending on the suitability for manufacturing, required quality, the length of the smoking segment 20A, etc.

[0061] For example, the first segment 25 (center hole segment) is composed of a first packed layer 25a having one or more hollow sections and an inner plug wrapper 25b covering the first packed layer 25a. The first segment 25 has the function of increasing the strength of the second segment 26. The first packed layer 25a of the first segment 25 is densely packed with, for example, cellulose acetate fibers. These cellulose acetate fibers are hardened by adding a plasticizer containing triacetin in an amount of, for example, 6 to 20% by mass relative to the mass of the cellulose acetate. The hollow section of the first segment 25 has, for example, an inner diameter of φ1.0 to φ5.0 mm.

[0062] The first packed layer 25a of the first segment 25 may, for example, be composed of a relatively high fiber packing density, or it may be equivalent to the fiber packing density of the second packed layer 26a of the second segment 26, which will be described later. Therefore, when suction occurs, air and aerosols flow only through the hollow portion, and almost no air or aerosols flow through the first packed layer 25a. For example, if it is desired to reduce the reduction of aerosol components due to filtration in the second segment 26, the length of the second segment 26 can be shortened, for example, and the first segment 25 can be lengthened accordingly.

[0063] Replacing the shortened second segment 26 with the first segment 25 is effective in increasing the amount of aerosol components delivered. Since the first filling layer 25a of the first segment 25 is a fiber filling layer, the feel from the outside during use does not cause any discomfort to the user.

[0064] The second segment 26 consists of a second packed layer 26a and an inner plug wrapper 26b that covers the second packed layer 26a. The second segment 26 (filter segment) is packed with cellulose acetate fibers at a typical density and has filtration performance for typical aerosol components.

[0065] The filtration performance of the first segment 25 and the second segment 26 for filtering the aerosol (mainstream smoke) released from the smoking segment 20A may be made different. A flavoring agent may be included in at least one of the first segment 25 and the second segment 26. The structure of the filter section 20C is arbitrary and may have a structure with multiple segments as described above, or it may consist of a single segment. Alternatively, the filter section 20C may consist of a single segment. In this case, the filter section 20C may consist of either the first segment or the second segment.

[0066] The connecting portion 20B is cylindrical in shape. The connecting portion 20B has a paper tube 23 formed in a cylindrical shape from, for example, cardboard. The connecting portion 20B may be filled with a cooling material for cooling the aerosol. Examples of cooling materials include polymer sheets such as polylactic acid, and these sheets can be folded and filled. Furthermore, a support portion may be provided between the smoking segment 20A and the connecting portion 20B to suppress fluctuations in the position of the smoking segment 20A. The support portion can be made of a known material such as a center hole filter, such as the first segment 25.

[0067] The wrapper 28 is cylindrically wrapped around the outside of the smoking segment 20A, the connecting portion 20B, and the filter portion 20C, connecting them integrally. One surface (inner surface) of the wrapper 28 is coated with vinyl acetate emulsion adhesive over its entire surface, or almost entirely, except for the vicinity of the ventilation holes 24. The multiple ventilation holes 24 are formed by laser processing from the outside after the smoking segment 20A, the connecting portion 20B, and the filter portion 20C have been integrated by the wrapper 28.

[0068] The ventilation section 24 has two or more through holes that penetrate the connecting section 20B in the thickness direction. The two or more through holes are formed to be arranged radially when viewed from the extension of the central axis of the flavor inhalation article 20. In this embodiment, the ventilation section 24 is provided in the connecting section 20B, but it may also be provided in the filter section 20C. Also, in this embodiment, the two or more through holes of the ventilation section 24 are arranged in a single row at a fixed interval on one ring, but they may also be arranged in two rows at a fixed interval on two rings, or the one or two rows of ventilation sections 24 may be arranged discontinuously or irregularly. When the user puts the mouthpiece in their mouth and inhales, outside air is drawn into the mainstream smoke through the ventilation section 24. However, the ventilation section 24 may not be provided.

[0069] An example of a non-combustion heating type smoking system is shown in Figure 2. In the figure, the non-combustion heating type smoking system comprises a non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article 20 and a heating device (heating apparatus) 10 that heats the smoking segment 20A from the outside.

[0070] The heating device 10 comprises a body 11, a heater 12, a metal tube 13, a battery unit 14, and a control unit 15. The body 11 has a cylindrical recess 16, and the heater 12 and the metal tube 13 are positioned in a location corresponding to the smoking segment 20A that is inserted into this recess. The heater 13 can be an electrical resistance heater, and power is supplied from the battery unit 14 according to instructions from the temperature control unit 15, causing the heater 12 to heat. The heat emitted from the heater 12 is transferred to the smoking segment 20A through the metal tube 13, which has high thermal conductivity. In this figure, the heating device 10 is shown heating the smoking segment 20A from the outside, but it may also heat from the inside. The heating temperature of the heating device 10 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 400°C or less, more preferably 150 to 400°C, and even more preferably 200 to 350°C. The heating temperature refers to the temperature of the heater of the heating device 10. The heating method used by the heating device 10 is not particularly limited, and in addition to heating by the heater described above, induction heating, microwave heating, etc., can also be employed. [Examples]

[0071] The present invention will be experimentally explained by the following examples, but the following explanation is not intended to be interpreted as limiting the scope of the present invention to these examples.

[0072] (Preparation of the first tobacco sheet) 100g of hot-air dried tobacco leaves (18.7% by mass of sugars, 0.37% by mass of amino acids) was used as the tobacco raw material. To 100g of this tobacco raw material, 8g of wood pulp, 8g of carboxymethylcellulose, 20g of glycerin, 12.5g of an 80% fructose solution, and 400g of water were added and mixed to form a slurry. Using the obtained slurry, tobacco sheets were manufactured based on a known casting method.

[0073] (Preparation of the second tobacco sheet) Tobacco raw material was obtained by mixing 60g of hot-air dried tobacco leaves (12.8% by mass of sugars, 0.62% by mass of amino acids) and 40g of air-dried tobacco leaves (0.1% by mass of sugars, 0.78% by mass of amino acids). To 100g of the obtained tobacco raw material, 8g of wood pulp, 8g of carboxymethylcellulose, 20g of glycerin, and 400g of water were added and mixed to form a slurry. Tobacco sheets were manufactured using the obtained slurry based on a known casting method.

[0074] (Preparation of the third tobacco sheet) 100g of hot-air dried tobacco leaves (12.8% sugars by mass, 0.42% amino acids by mass) was used as the tobacco raw material. To 100g of this tobacco raw material, 8g of wood pulp, 8g of carboxymethylcellulose, 20g of glycerin, and 400g of water were added and mixed to form a slurry. Using the obtained slurry, tobacco sheets were manufactured based on a known casting method.

[0075] (Measurement of the content of triamino acids and trisaccharides) For each of the first to third tobacco sheets obtained as described above, the mass (g) of the three amino acids (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine) and trisaccharides (glucose, fructose, sucrose) was measured based on the following procedure and measurement method, and the content (mass %) of the three amino acids and trisaccharides in each tobacco sheet was calculated. Based on the content (mass%) of the three amino acids and trisaccharides calculated in this way, the ratio of the mass% of trisaccharides (total of glucose, fructose, and sucrose) to the mass% of the three amino acids (total of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and asparagine) in each tobacco sheet (mass% of trisaccharides / mass% of three amino acids) was calculated. These results are shown in Table 1.

[0076] <Measurement procedure and conditions for the content of three amino acids> 2.0g of each tobacco sheet (tobacco sheets 1-3) was taken and placed in a rotary dryer. It was dried at 80°C ± 1°C for 3 hours, and the moisture content W (weight %) in each tobacco sheet was determined from the weight loss. Furthermore, using an absolute mill (ABS-W: manufactured by Osaka Chemical Co., Ltd.), 1.0 g of powder was prepared from 2.0 g of each tobacco sheet. 20 mL of extraction solvent (80% methanol (methanol:ultrapure water (manufactured by MiliQ) = 8:2)) was added to 1 g of the obtained powder, and sonication was performed for 30 minutes to extract amino acids and obtain an extract. The obtained extract was filtered through a 0.2 μm filter, and the filtered extract was analyzed directly using the high-performance liquid chromatography described below to quantify the concentration (mg / L) of amino acids (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, or asparagine) in the extract. From these values, the mass percentage of each amino acid in each tobacco sheet, based on dry weight, was calculated using the following formula (1).

[0077] • Analytical instrument: High-performance liquid chromatography diode array (DAD) detector (Agilent 1290) Column: Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse AAA Mobile phase A: 40 mM phosphate buffer Mobile phase B: 45% acetonitrile-45% methanol aqueous solution Gradient: Yes

[0078]

number

[0079] <Measurement procedure and conditions for trisaccharide content> 2.0g of each tobacco sheet (tobacco sheets 1-3) was taken and placed in a rotary dryer. It was dried at 80°C ± 1°C for 3 hours, and the moisture content W (weight %) in each tobacco sheet was determined from the weight loss. Furthermore, using an absolute mill (ABS-W: manufactured by Osaka Chemical Co., Ltd.), 1.0 g of tobacco filling powder was prepared from 2.0 g of each tobacco sheet. 40 mL of extraction solvent (acetonitrile:ultrapure water (manufactured by MiliQ) = 1:1) was added to the obtained powder, and the mixture was shaken at 100 rpm for 30 minutes to extract the sugars and obtain an extract. The obtained extract was filtered through a 0.45 μm filter, and the filtered extract was analyzed using the high-performance liquid chromatography method described below to measure the concentration (mg / mL) of sugars (glucose, fructose, or sucrose) in the extract. From these values, the mass percentage of each sugar in each tobacco sheet, based on dry weight, was calculated using the following formula (2), and then the mass percentage of the total trisaccharides (glucose, fructose, and sucrose) was calculated by summing them up.

[0080] • Analytical instrument: High-performance liquid chromatography with radioisotope detector (JASCO). Column: HPLC NH2 column (Capcell PakNH2 UG80, Shiseido Co., Ltd.) Mobile phase: 75% acetonitrile (NeCN:distilled water = 75:25)

[0081]

number

[0082] [Table 1]

[0083] (Examples 1-5, Comparative Examples 1-3) The first and second tobacco sheets were mixed in the mixing ratios shown in Table 2 to obtain the trisaccharide and triamino acid content shown in Table 2, and then filled into wrapping paper to obtain each tobacco fill (280 mg) of Examples 1 to 5. Similarly, each tobacco sheet from Examples 1 to 3 was filled into wrapping paper to obtain each tobacco fill (280 mg) of Comparative Examples 1 to 3. In each tobacco filler of Examples 1-5 and Comparative Examples 1-3, the ratio of the mass percentage of trisaccharides (total of glucose, fructose, and sucrose, etc.) to the mass percentage of triamino acids (total of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and asparagine) (mass percentage of trisaccharides / mass percentage of triamino acids) can be calculated as shown in Table 2.

[0084] [Table 2]

[0085] Conventionally, as shown in Comparative Examples 1-3 above, tobacco fillers were manufactured using a single tobacco sheet with a predetermined trisaccharide content. Therefore, when changing the trisaccharide content in the tobacco filler to characterize a product, it was necessary to manufacture a separate tobacco sheet each time to match the trisaccharide content of each product. Consequently, from the standpoint of workload and manufacturing costs, it was difficult to flexibly change the trisaccharide content to characterize products. On the other hand, as shown in Examples 1 to 5 above, it was found that by using multiple tobacco sheets with different trisaccharide content, the trisaccharide content in the tobacco filler can be flexibly changed to characterize the product.

[0086] (Evaluation of flavor and flavor inhibition) The tobacco fillings obtained in Examples 1-5 and Comparative Examples 1-3 as described above were used as smoking segments (tobacco segments), and non-combustion heated flavor inhalation articles shown in Figure 1 were prepared. Each of the non-combustion heated flavor inhalation articles thus obtained was installed in the non-combustion external heating smoking system shown in Figure 2. Each of the flavor-inhaling items prepared in this manner was evaluated for its flavor and the sense of flavor inhibition by 10 well-trained panelists. The flavor and flavor-inhibiting sensation of each flavor inhalation product were evaluated by each panelist on a 10-point scale from 1 (low, weak) to 10 (high, strong), and the average value of the 10 panelists was calculated. If the average value had one decimal place, the score was calculated by rounding to the nearest tenth. The flavor profile indicates the total amount of heated aromas obtained from the sugar-amino acid reaction described above, while the flavor inhibition profile indicates the total amount that inhibits the overall aroma. Flavor (X) and flavor inhibition (Y) were evaluated separately, and an overall score (XY) was calculated. An overall score of 1 or higher was considered acceptable.

[0087] [Table 3]

[0088] As shown in Table 3, the tobacco fillers of Examples 1-5 received better evaluations than Comparative Examples 1-3 in terms of flavor and flavor inhibition. Regarding the overall evaluation, the tobacco fillers of Examples 1-5 received higher evaluations than Comparative Examples 1-3, indicating that they can enhance flavor while suppressing flavor inhibition. In particular, although the tobacco sheet of Example 3 and the tobacco sheet of Comparative Example 3 had similar amounts of triamino acids, trisaccharides, and the ratio of mass% of trisaccharides to mass% of triamino acids, the tobacco sheet of Example 3 received a significantly higher overall evaluation than the tobacco sheet of Comparative Example 3. Furthermore, a comparison of the results of Examples 1-5 revealed that the tobacco sheet of Example 3, with a mass ratio of 50:50 between the first and second tobacco sheets, was particularly superior in overall evaluation. On the other hand, the tobacco filler in Comparative Example 1 had a weak flavor and a strong sense of flavor inhibition, while the tobacco filler in Comparative Example 2 had a strong flavor but also a strong sense of flavor inhibition. In the tobacco fillers of Examples 1 to 5, it is presumed that the flavor quality was improved by appropriately controlling the trisaccharide-to-triamino acid ratios and mixing two types of tobacco sheets with different ratios of trisaccharides and triamino acids. From the above, it was found that by mixing tobacco sheets with different trisaccharide and triamino acid content, it is possible to adjust the flavor and the sensation of flavor inhibition, thereby giving the product its own unique characteristics.

[0089] As described above, the tobacco filler of the present invention allows for flexible modification of the ratio of mass % of trisaccharides to mass % of triamino acids in the form of a tobacco sheet. Furthermore, in some cases, in addition to being able to flexibly modify the ratio of mass % of trisaccharides to mass % of triamino acids, the tobacco filler of the present invention can also control the flavor according to the characteristics of the product. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0090] 10 Heating devices 11 Body 12 Heater 13 Metal tube 14 Battery Unit 15 Control Unit 16 recesses 17 ventilation holes 20 Non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation articles 20A Smoking Segment 20B Connecting part 20C filter section 21 Smoking composition sheets or materials derived therefrom 22 Rappers 23 Paper tube 24 Ventilation hole section 25. Segment 1 25a 1st packed bed 25b Inner Plug Wrapper 26. Segment 2 26a 2nd packed bed 26b Inner Plug Wrapper 27 Outer plug wrapper 28 Rapper

Claims

1. Tobacco-filled material, Including a first tobacco sheet and a second tobacco sheet, The first tobacco sheet and the second tobacco sheet are Trisaccharides selected from the group consisting of glucose, fructose, sucrose, and mixtures thereof, and Three amino acids selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, and mixtures thereof. Includes, In the first tobacco sheet, the ratio of the mass percentage of the trisaccharide to the mass percentage of the three amino acids (mass percentage of trisaccharide / mass percentage of three amino acids) is 50 or more. In the second tobacco sheet, the ratio of the mass percentage of the trisaccharide to the mass percentage of the three amino acids (mass percentage of trisaccharide / mass percentage of three amino acids) is 20 or less. The aforementioned tobacco filler.

2. The tobacco filler according to claim 1, wherein the mass ratio of the first tobacco sheet to the second tobacco sheet is 5:95 to 95:

5.

3. The tobacco filler according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ratio of the mass percentage of the trisaccharide to the mass percentage of the three amino acids (mass percentage of trisaccharide / mass percentage of three amino acids) is 15 to 50, based on the entire tobacco filler.

4. The tobacco filler according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first tobacco sheet or the second tobacco sheet further contains 1 to 8% by mass of malic acid.

5. The tobacco filler according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first tobacco sheet or the second tobacco sheet further comprises an aerosol generating agent.

6. A flavor inhalation article comprising the tobacco filler described in claim 1 or 2.

7. The flavor-absorbing article according to claim 6, which is a non-combustion heating type flavor-absorbing article.

8. A method for manufacturing a tobacco filler according to claim 1 or 2, A method for producing the tobacco filler, comprising the step of combining the first tobacco sheet and the second tobacco sheet.

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