DESC:Field of invention
The present invention generally relates to tobacco alternatives in smoking and smokeless forms. More particularly the invention relates to constituents of tea (Camellia sinensis) namely caffeine and theanine and subsequent production of tea cigarettes and chewing tea. This invention opens a new field of interest on the use of tea based theanine and caffeine in appropriate ratio in smoking and smokeless products as tobacco alternatives.

Background of the invention
Tobacco is the only legal drug that kills one person prematurely every six seconds when used exactly as intended by manufacturers. The health hazards of tobacco in both smoking and smokeless forms are well documented. Ranging from respiratory disorders to severe cancer, tobacco and its main constituent nicotine are accounted as the single most important source of preventable morbidity and premature mortality. In this context, various attempts have been made to find alternatives for tobacco smoking such as electronic cigarettes, herbal cigarettes and hookahs. However, in all of these alternatives, psychoactive drugs (nicotine, tetrahydrocannabinol) containing tobacco or cannabis are used, which in turn cause an addictive effect. Similarly, common substitutes available in the market for overcoming the habit of using smokeless tobacco are tobacco-free pouches containing nicotine, mint-leaf snuff, sugarless gum, beef jerky, hard candy, sunflower seeds and nuts. However, these products do not satiate the mouth feel and lip burn cravings in users. Usage of nicotine gums for overcoming the nicotine withdrawal symptoms also does not ensure tobacco abstinence. Hence, there is a constant challenge in developing an alternative for tobacco in both smoking and smokeless forms which will aid in tobacco cessation.

Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world. For any individual, consumption of tea is linked to relaxation and refreshment. The two major dietary components of tea which are responsible for this effect are theanine and caffeine. L-theanine (?-glutamylethylamide) is a non-protein amino acid found in Camellia sinensis species. It is the major amino acid present in tea leaves constituting about 1 – 2% of the dry weight of tea. Theanine is associated with enhanced relaxation effect and improved concentration and learning ability. On the other hand, caffeine, a methylxanthine alkaloid is a stimulant. Other methylxanthines in tea are theobromine and theophylline that has a synergistic effect with caffeine. The possibility of utilizing tea leaves as an alternative for tobacco has been explored by researchers in the past decade.

CN104997156B discloses the preparation of tea cigarette which contains tea leaves along with a part of pipe tobacco, thereby reducing its nicotine content.

US9022041B2 describes a method of converting tea leaves into a smoking product suitable for use with a smoking device such as, but not limited to, a hookah.

KR100458314B1 explains a method of manufacturing green tea tobacco with other constituents such as peppermint and garlic.

CN103948165B relates to the development of Pu’er cigarettes that has good suction taste and is favorable for smoking cessation.

US6619293B1 provides an alternative for tobacco in smoking and chewing forms using mature tea leaves that are not withered.

US20120167904A1 relates to a snuff product that delivers nicotine during consumption of product that contains a mixture of nicotine, caffeine and tea leaves.

In all the above cited works, the role of theanine and the importance of caffeine-theanine ratio in tea leaves have been ignored. The present invention focuses on enhancing the pharmacologically important constituents of tea namely theanine and caffeine and subsequent production of tea cigarettes and chewing variant. This invention opens a new field of interest on the use of theanine and caffeine (either in naturally obtained or synthesized form) in tobacco alternatives.

Detailed description
The present invention relates to:
1. A simple, cost-effective, post-harvest process, feasible in large scale for naturally enhancing the content of theanine and caffeine in tea leaves. The process is described as follows. Tea leaves (two leaves and a bud, around 80-90% fine leaf) are plucked and withered for 1 to 2 hours. The briefly withered leaves can be subjected to either panning or steaming process for enzyme inactivation. In panning method, the leaves are exposed to a blast of hot air or dry heat in barrels at 100 - 106°C for less than 3 minutes. Whereas, in the steaming method, the leaves are steamed at 140°C for 1 minute. After enzyme inactivation, the tea leaves are withered in shade (ambient temperature under 25°C) for a period of 12 – 16 hours. This is a critical step that enhances the production and accumulation of theanine (and caffeine) in the leaves. The withered leaves are subjected to rolling (well type rollers without battens) for 40 minutes. The rolled leaves are dried (conventional drier) at 65 - 70°C for 13 minutes. This semi-firing process is done to facilitate subsequent roll breaking process. Semi fired leaves are passed through roll breaker consisting of No. 3 mesh. Fines (almost 30% of total bulk) are separated and sent to rotary drum and bulk sent for secondary rolling. The leaves after secondary rolling are subjected to slow moisture removal for 1.5 hours. The leaves, after passing through the rotary drum are fired in an Endless Chain Pressure (ECP) drier at an inlet temperature ranging from 95 to 100°C for 17 minutes. This modified process yields green tea leaves with 13 – 15% higher theanine and caffeine contents in comparison to the conventional method. This extended withering process can be employed at suitable stages of black tea, oolong tea, white tea and pu-erh tea processing for enhancing the theanine and caffeine contents.

2. Production of tea cigarettes. The tea leaves with moisture content of 3 – 5% (obtained by the modified processing method) can be used directly for producing hand rolled tea cigarettes or filling pre-rolled cigarette tubes. However, for machine manufacture of cigarettes, the leaves have to be conditioned and shred to appropriate dimensions to enhance its binding and filling efficiency. The conditioning process is carried out using binding agents (cellulose fiber, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, guar gum or xanthan gum) and humectants (propylene glycol, sorbitol) to maintain the moisture and pliability of the leaves. The conditioned tea leaves are shred to strand thickness ranging from 0.6 mm to 2 mm. The machine manufacturing of cigarette includes the following steps, i.e. formation of long rods of cigarettes containing the shred tea leaves; cutting of long rod into shorter rods; inserting filters at both ends of short rods; connecting filters with tipping paper; cutting shorter rod in to two thereby forming two filtered cigarettes (of length ranging from 64 mm to 88 mm.

3. Preparation methods for tea cigarettes with high theanine content and favorable theanine caffeine ratio. Method 1 - theanine is extracted from the tea leaves using water as solvent at 80°C for 30 minutes, followed by concentration of the extract and spraying over primary dried tea leaves to achieve the desired theanine concentration in tea leaves. Method 2 - the concentrated theanine extract can also be spray dried or freeze dried to obtain powder rich in theanine for physical dry mixing with tea leaves. Method 3 - theanine extract can be spray coated on the internal surface of the cigarette paper for obtaining theanine loaded cigarette paper. The most favorable theanine and caffeine ratio is 2:1. Tea cigarettes (weighing about 1 – 2 g) containing theanine in the range of 0.6 mg to 6 mg/cigarette, caffeine from 0.3 mg to 10 mg/cigarette and catechin from 0.1 mg to 20 mg/cigarette can be produced.

4. Preparation of smokeless tobacco alternative. Tea leaves produced by modified processing method are subject to conditioning process using guar gum or glycerol to render the leaf pliable for shredding. The conditioned leaves are treated with flavouring agents, herb, spice mixture consisting either of cinnamon, clove, anise, vanilla, peppermint, sage, bay leaf, eucalyptus leaf, mint, mullein or menthol to achieve the flavour and taste characteristics. Food grade preservatives such as sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate are added to the conditioned leaves to improve its shelf life and microbial stability. Finally, the leaves are shred to desirable dimensions for subsequent drying and packaging.

Proof of concept: Clinical Study
A single arm, open labeled, pilot clinical trial with volunteers has been conducted by the inventor (Shanthi S) to study the effectiveness of tea cigarettes on tobacco smoking cessation. The efficacy assessments conducted were analysis of the presence of nicotine metabolites in the volunteers at the start and end of study, nicotine withdrawal symptom assessment, Cigarettes Dependance Scale (CDS) and Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale (NDSS) questionnaires. The study revealed a statistically significant effect on the ability of volunteers to quit tobacco cigarettes and maintain tobacco abstinence. The two major components in tea leaves (Camellia sinensis) that aid in tobacco smoking cessation are caffeine and theanine. Caffeine is a purine alkaloid of the xanthene class, 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine. Once caffeine is in to the body, it alters the activity of the brain adenosine receptors. Due to the structural similarity between adenosine and caffeine, the brain recognizes the later as adenosine and binds it to the adenosine receptor, thereby decreasing adenosine activity. Through this process, caffeine consumption enhances the alertness of the user for a period of four to six hours or until caffeine is completely metabolised. On the contrast, nicotine disrupts the relationship between neurotransmitter acetylcholine and its receptors. Nicotine also activates the reward circuits that are part of the limbic system, causing an increase in dopamine in the circuits. Dopamine creates a sense of pleasure in the individual which is the chief reason for nicotine’s addictive nature. Interestingly, theanine in green tea is shown to reduce the rewarding effects of nicotine by inhibition of the a4, ß2 and a7 nicotine acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) - dopamine reward pathway. Thus, caffeine and theanine from tea cigarette can aid in tobacco cessation during the period of quitting smoking tobacco. Another appealing aspect of tea cigarette for smoking cessation is that theanine does not have addictive properties. Further, the mild addictive properties of caffeine can be easily overcome without any intense withdrawal symptoms. Also, after 7 to 12 days without caffeine intake, the brain returns to its normal production of adenosine and norepinephrine. Once the tobacco addiction is treated completely, the usage of tea cigarette, which is a simple habit, can be easily stopped. This is a proof for the ability of caffeine and theanine in tea cigarettes to aid in achieving tobacco cessation.

In one of the embodiments of the invention, it encompasses any tea cigarette with high theanine content containing any of the following flavoring agents, herb, spice or additives, such as cinnamon, clove, anise, vanilla, peppermint, sage, eucalyptus leaf, mint, mullein, menthol. Cocoa, coffee, jasmine petal, strawberry, pineapple, apple, orange, grape, cherry, garlic and similar, in the final product to improve the aroma of smoke produced.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a tea cigarette is prepared using the constituents like sugars and ameliorants such as invert sugar, honey, licorice, etc., to create a characteristic taste.

In another embodiment of the invention, a tea cigarette is prepared containing constituents such as bay leaf, lettuce, mulberry leaf, persimmon leaf, mint, sage and such for synergistic effect along with theanine or for enhanced stimulatory properties or recreational purposes.

In another embodiment of the invention, the processed tea leaves can be used as filling for beedi (Indian traditional mini cigarette) that are rolled using Tendu (Diospyros melanoxylon) or Piliostigma racemosum leaf.

In another embodiment of the invention, chewing tea for tobacco alternative is prepared by adding other components such as slaked lime (calcium hydroxide), catechu extract, areca nut or betel leaf extract.

In an embodiment of the invention, chewing tea is mixed with slaked lime just before placing between the gums and lips for achieving lip burn sensation.

In another embodiment of the invention, the tea cigarette and chewing tea can be obtained using different ratios of other tea varieties (black, Oolong, white, pu-erh tea) alongside green tea.
,CLAIMS:We Claim:
1. A simple, cost-effective post-harvest process for enhancing theanine and caffeine contents in green tea leaves, the process comprising:
i) Harvest of tea leaves (two leaves and bud)
ii) withering tea leaves in shade for a period of 1 – 2 hours,
iii) steaming (140°C for 1 minute) or panning (100 – 106°C for less than 3 minutes) the leaves for inactivation of enzymes,
iv) withering the enzyme inactivated leaves in shade again for 12-16 hours,
v) rolling and drying the leaves thereafter.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the moisture content of the final product is in the range of 3 % to 10 %.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the theanine and caffeine content in tea leaves is enhanced by 13 – 15 % compared to conventional method.

4. A method for preparation of tea cigarette that contains high amount of naturally obtained theanine, comprising:
i) Production of tea leaves as in Claim 1, rolled in to cigarette of required dimensions.
ii) Filling of dried tea leaves containing high theanine in to cigarette papers and production of 64 – 88 mm cigarette with less than 30 mm filter tip.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein theanine is extracted from green tea leaves, and then concentrated and sprayed on the leaves and blended for even distribution and to obtain appropriate theanine-caffeine ratio of 2:1.

6. The process of claim 5, wherein after the extraction of theanine from green tea leaves, the concentrated extract is spray dried or freeze dried to be converted to powder form which is then dry mixed with green tea leaves at appropriate concentrations.

7. The process of claim 5, wherein the extract is concentrated and spray coated on the internal surface of cigarette paper.

8. The process of conditioning and shredding the tea leaves obtained as in Claim 1 for machine manufacturing of cigarette.

9. The process in Claim 8 includes binding agents including but not limited to cellulose fiber, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, guar gum or xanthan gum and humectants such as propylene glycol or sorbitol.

10. The process in Claim 8 includes shredding of conditioned tea leaves in to strand thickness ranging from 0.6 mm to 2 mm and subsequent machine manufacture of cigarettes.

11. The process for preparation of smokeless tobacco alternative using tea leaves, wherein, the tea leaves produced as per process in Claim 1 is conditioned (guar gum or glycerol), treated with flavoring agents, herb, spice mixture (cinnamon, clove, anise, vanilla, peppermint, sage, bay leaf, eucalyptus leaf, mint, mullein or menthol) and added preservative (sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate) for subsequent drying and packaging.