Smokeless tobacco packaging system and method

摘要

Some embodiments of a smokeless tobacco system include a container including a plurality of preformed smokeless tobacco products configured to generally retain their shape and integrity during processing, shipping, and consumer handling. One or more of the preformed smokeless tobacco products are compressed between a lid and a base of the container to hinder movement of the one or more preformed smokeless tobacco products within the container. Each preformed smokeless tobacco product can include a moist smokeless tobacco in combination with a selected binder such that the final product is configured to have material properties providing improved handling, an improved mouth feel, and a satisfying flavor profile. A method of forming and packaging the preformed smokeless tobacco products includes depositing shaped smokeless tobacco bodies into the container and closing the container prior to a relaxation of the shaped smokeless tobacco bodies into preformed smokeless tobacco products such that one or more of the preformed smokeless tobacco products become compressed between the lid and the base of the container.