From plantation to smokeless tobacco can

The scent and flavour

The one that is a snus user has certainly a favourite brand among all kinds of different smokeless tobacco, but what is it that actually makes you to determine for a specific brand? A smokeless tobacco scent and flavour are influenced by a number of different factors like what kind of tobacco varieties it contains, type of manufacturing process and also which flavouring additives that are added. The taste of the tobacco is determined by what kind of seed that is used, the tobaccos cultivation location and how it is dried. The manufacturing process also influences the flavour. The smokeless tobacco gets a more mature scent and flavour through a heat treatment process. In the end are aromatic oils such as rose and lemon oil added which gives the smokeless tobacco its scent profile.

Varieties of tobacco

Swedish smokeless tobacco is primarily manufactured from varieties of air-dried tobacco with high quality. The tobacco is bought from tobacco farmers in South and North America but also from countries in Europe and Africa. One smokeless tobacco recipe could contain more than twenty different varieties of tobacco that gives the smokeless tobacco its distinctive character. To determine the quality of the tobacco samples are taken to find out the chemical composition.

Additives

The main ingredients in snus are ground tobacco, water, salt and sodium carbonate. Additives and flavouring moisture-preserving substances are also added.

The salt is added to give flavour and to lengthen the keeping qualities of the smokeless tobacco. Sodium carbonate gives the smokeless tobacco its original scent and flavour and it is converted into bicarbonate as soon it is added which is also present in the finished smokeless tobacco. The flavourings comprise both natural and synthetic substances that are accepted to be used in food. These compounds are in most cases added in form of alcohol solutions. During the production evaporates the main part of the alcohol and only trace amounts can be found in the finished smokeless tobacco.

To prevent the snus from drying out moisture-preservative substances are added such as glycerol and propylene glycol. These substances have a certain preservative effect then it decrease the smokeless tobacco so called water activity which result in that it is harder for bacteria to grow in the smokeless tobacco.

Manufacture

Swedish smokeless tobacco is usually produced in three main stages, grinding, preparation and packing. Throughout the manufacturing process the flavour is influenced by the consistency varies among the various types of smokeless tobacco recipes. For instance, a compact smokeless tobacco releases its flavour more slowly than a more porous smokeless tobacco.

Grinding

The tobacco is dried and put into a grinder where it is ground. Afterwards the tobacco is screened into coarse, intermediate and fine meal. According to the recipe different quantities are sent to a silo to be mixed. Every type of meal is stored in an individual silo and is brought mechanically when smokeless tobacco is manufactured.

Preparation of the tobacco

A process computer controls the manufacturing of snus and the preparation begins with weighing of tobacco meal before it is transported to closed blenders. Water and salt are added at the same time as the mixture is stirred, afterwards is the smokeless tobacco heated up. The mixture of smokeless tobacco is kept warm through a computer that regulates both the temperature and the stirring according to a program. This preparation part in the smokeless tobacco process is called sweating and is similar with pasteurization. When the heat treatment is finished is the snus cooled down and the remaining ingredients are added and samples are taken to check the quality. If the values in the samples are approved is the batch of smokeless tobacco ready for packing.

Packing of loose-weight smokeless tobacco in cans

The snus is filled mechanically in cans by packing machines. When the cans are filled they are sealed with a lid before they are weighed. Labels are attached to the pre-packed cans that are collected in a number of ten can, known as a roll. Shrink-wrap film is put around before the rolls are packed into cartons.

Packing of portion-packed smokeless tobacco in cans

The packing of the portion-packed smokeless tobacco is a more complicated procedure, where the portions are measured and inserted into a tube made of cellulose fibre. The desirable portions are sealed before they are cut apart and the finished portions pouches are filled up into a can that is closed with a lid. Afterwards are the cans weighed and labels are put on.

Cold storage of the smokeless tobacco

The pre-packed smokeless tobacco is stored in a cold-storage room for a few days before the smokeless tobacco is released to retailers, which are very essential so the smokeless tobacco mature and obtain its characteristic scent and flavour.