Non-tobacco containing smoking product

A process for preparing and the ingredients for preparing a non-tobacco smoking product is disclosed. The product consists essentially of a mixture comprising sugar beet leaves, white beet leaves, sugar cane leaves and the inner white part of the grapefruit peel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a non-tobacco containing smoking product. More 
particularly, this invention relates to the discovery of a non-tabacco 
containing smoking product having the taste, aroma, flavor and burning 
characteristics similar to tobacco but free of the harmful effects of 
tabacco. 
In recent years medical studies and statistical studies have shown that 
tobacco may be harmful to ones health. It has been proposed that tobacco 
may, for example, have harmful effects upon the cardio-vascular system and 
the respiratory system. Nevertheless, the number of individuals smoking 
tabacco products has been increasing, with statistical studies showing 
that the increase is associated with young people. 
It has been proposed to find a substitute for tobacco which will be free of 
the harmful effects associated with tobacco and particularly with nicotine 
and tars which are inhaled into the lungs when smoking tobacco. The 
substitute would have to look like, taste like, have the aroma and flavor 
of tobacco in order to satisfy the psychological needs which may be 
associated with tobacco smoking. 
In U.S. Pat. No. 2,930,719 of Finberg, issued Mar. 29, 1960 there is 
disclosed a wide variety of nicotine free products which are suggested for 
use in a tobacco-free smoking product including ingredients containing 
niacin and rutin. It is suggested that the smoking composition will not 
have a vascular-constricting effect. The disclosure does not, however, 
disclose specifically a composition which is substantially identical to 
the taste, aroma and flavor of tabacco containing smoking products. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,369,352 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,369,551 both of Carroll and 
each issued Feb. 20, 1968 disclose a process for preparing a smoking 
product and a smoking product which is a water and organic solvent 
extracted porous residuum of the leafy portion of a plant selected from 
the group consisting of lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, collard, kohlrabi, 
spinanch and papaya plus added sweeteners, vitamins and other ingredients. 
The method of preparing is not simple in that there are several steps and 
the combination of ingredients is complicated by its number making it 
difficult to produce the flavor most appealing to smokers. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,034,931 of Kiefer discloses a substitute tobacco product 
made from sagebrush. In order to obtain a desirable flavor it is suggested 
that one should add paprika and tumeric. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,702,615 of Rozacky et al issued Nov. 14, 1972 discloses a 
non-tobacco smoking, chewing and dipping product of leaves of lettuce, 
spinach or cabbage. The process of producing the product involves multiple 
soaking and pressing steps, drying steps and requires the addition of 
additives in order to obtain the simulated tobacco taste and appearance. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,703,177 of Hind, issued Nov. 21, 1972 discloses a smoking 
product that is made from waste beet pulp which may be used alone or may 
be blended with tobacco. This product requires complicated cooking and 
refining steps and is generally not satisfactory to the smoker without the 
addition of additives such as tobacco itself. 
Other patents disclosing tobacco substitutes or methods of modifying 
tobacco are: U.S. Pat. No. 3,112,754 issued Dec. 3, 1963; U.S. Pat. No. 
3,106,209 of Torigian, issued Oct. 8, 1963; U.S. Pat. No. 3,575,177 of 
Briskin, issued Apr. 20, 1971 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,638,660, 3,705,589, 
3,491,766, 2,943,958, 2,943,959, 2,907,686, 3,738,374, 3,100,492, 
3,255,760, 3,545,448, 3,434,171, 3,323,524 and 3,720,660. 
It is highly desirable to obtain a simple combination of ingredients, 
requiring little processing and chemical treatment having the flavor, 
aroma, taste and smoking characteristics of tobacco without the addition 
of additives which combination of ingredients is free from the harmful 
effects of tobacco but at the same time satisfies the desires of the 
tabacco smoker. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with this invention there is provided a non-tabacco smoking 
product and the method of producing the product. The smoking product is 
free of nicotine and tobacco tars and hence does not produce the harmful 
side effects which can be associated with tobacco products. Nevertheless, 
the smoking product of this invention satisfies the smoking needs of the 
typical smoker in that the product of this invention looks, tastes, smells 
and has the flavor of cigarette tobacco and has the smoking 
characteristics of tobacco, i.e. slow burning. 
The invention comprises a combination of sugar beet leaves, white beet 
leaves, sugar cane leaves and the inner white part of the grapefruit peel. 
The leaves are air dried, shredded to the desired size and rolled in 
tobacco paper. 
It is a general object of the invention to provide a non-tabacco smoking 
product comprised of sugar beet leaves, white beet leaves, sugar cane 
leaves and the inner white part of the grapefruit peel. 
Another object of the invention is to produce a smokable product that will 
have the physical characteristics of natural tobacco and yet eliminate the 
harmful effects associated with tabacco. 
Still another object is that the mixture of sugar beet leaves, white beet 
leaves, sugar cane leaves and the inner white part of the grapefruit peel 
will resemble natural tobacco to a great degree in its flavor and aroma. 
An additional object is the burning qualities of the above mentioned 
mixture. The mixture burns evenly and smoothly and provides a uniform 
white ash. 
A specific object of the invention is to produce a non-tabacco smoking 
product that is relatively inexpensive and is practicable on a commercial 
scale and economically feasible. 
Another object of the invention is the quick and easy processing procedure. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The non-tobacco product of this invention comprises a combination of about 
55% sugar beet leaves, 25% white beet leaves, 10% sugar cane leaves and 
10% of the inner white part of the grapefruit peel. All percentages herein 
are percentages by weight. 
The fresh leaves and grapefruit peel are set out to air dry. The air drying 
process can be out in the open under the sun or within barns. In 
accordance with this invention the leaves and peel need only be air dried 
for from about 3 days to about 5 days and preferably 3 or 4 days. After 
the air drying or curing process is complete the ingredients are shredded 
to the desired size thoroughly mixed and rolled into tabacco paper so as 
to provide a non-tabacco smoking cigarette. Although as described, the 
shredding is performed after air drying, one can shred the leaves first 
and air dry afterward. However, this is not as desirable as air drying the 
unshredded leaves and peel since it is simpler to have the entire leaf 
and/or peel exposed at all times to the air. 
The air drying period can be extended to periods of times longer than 4 or 
5 days when necessary because of excess humidity and the like or where 
desired it can be air dried for longer periods of time in order to achieve 
different characteristics for the smoking product, however, to achieve the 
high quality product of this invention which is extremely close to natural 
tobacco in its smoking characteristics it is generally desirable to limit 
the drying period to between 3 and 5 days and preferably 3 or 4 days.

EXAMPLE I 
Fresh leaves of sugar beets, white beets and sugar cane and a grapefruit 
were obtained from a commercial source. 
The fruit and juice from the grapefruit were removed and the inner white 
part of the peel was carved out in thin slices so as to facilitate the 
drying process. The leaves and peel were hung in a manner such that 
substantially all the surface of the material were exposed to the air. The 
material was left to air dry for 3.5 days. 
Upon drying the leaves and peel were shredded to the size of cigarette 
tobacco and completely mixed in a slowly rotating blendor so as to obtain 
a complete mix of the ingredients. The mix was compacted and rolled into 
tabacco paper. 
The smoking characteristics, flavor, aroma and taste was substantially 
indistinguishable from cigarettes of smoking tobacco. 
Although the invention has been described in terms for the preparation of a 
non-tobacco cigarette, the composition of this invention can be employed 
for the preparation of chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco or as a substitute 
for cigar tobacco. 
When so desired, the tobacco substitute of this invention can be modified 
by additives such as those which produce a menthol taste.