TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an improved natural fuel package, more particularly to an improved natural mixture for a fuel source which has medicinal and therapeutic effects; and methods of manufacturing such mixture.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventional fuel packages or fuel sources used in various activities such as cooking, heating, smoking etc. emit smoke and fragrances that are not always healthy to inhale or beneficial to consume.

Healthy cooking in particular requires not only preserving the flavor and nutrition of the food but also addition of flavor and nutrition. In addition to the physical effects, food must essentially contribute to the betterment of the mental health of the consumer and those preparing the food as well.

The conventional solid fuel sources used for cooking or heating include wood, charcoal, peat, coal, Hexamine fuel tablets, wood pellets, corn, wheat, rye, and other grains. Thus Charcoal of a wood taken from a common tree, mixed with a binder is already well-known in the art. Food cooked on charcoal can have a unique flavor and have wide appeal. Briquettes capable of sustained emission of aromatic volatiles during cooking of food over a heated bed of briquettes have also been disclosed, particularly those which use essentially a wood selected from a group consisting of hickory, mesquite, apple, oak, maple, alder, cherry, sassafras, birch, ash, willow, pine etc.

One of the major shortcomings of conventional solid fuel sources, more particularly charcoal fuel packages, is that the smoke emitted from the ignited fuel can be harmful to the respiratory system. Moreover, they can be difficult to ignite and may not continue to bum, even after they appear to have been ignited. To address this problem, conventional charcoal manufacturers often spray petroleum solvent to assist with the ignition. More commonly, a consumer will use lighter fluid, kerosene, petrol or fire-starters to ignite the charcoal. Thus charcoal briquettes often contain potentially harmful constituent materials in addition to the wood or other primary charcoal material such as chemicals. Excessive use of such flammable petroleum-based material or other chemicals, however, may impart unwanted fragrances and flavors and chemicals to the food. Additionally, the use of lighter fluid can emit volatile organic compounds, which can have adverse short and/or long-term health effects. Furthermore, the harmful fumes can be inhaled by being present around the burning charcoal.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention, by contrast, relates to a mixture for a fuel source which is 100% natural both in constitution and mode of ignition. The mixture disclosed in the present invention suffers from none of the deficiencies pointed out above with respect to the prior art approaches. A constituent element of the mixture of the present invention is formed from organs of a plant in theCinnamomumgenus. While it is known to make charcoal from various types of wood, such charcoal does not contain parts of the Cinnamon plant as a constituent element.

The benefits of the fragrance emitted by parts of plants in theCinnamomumgenus are endless. Conventionally, the essential oil derived from the leaves and bark of the cinnamon trees possesses several therapeutic qualities or properties. The essential oil obtained from cinnamon leaves and bark stimulates the body as well as the mind. The cinnamon essential oil is also effective in treating depression diminishing lethargy, petulance, pain and regular headaches. It has been proved that inhaling the cinnamon fragrance is useful in providing relief from infections in the respiratory system. It has been established that a user of cinnamon essential oil experiences an augmentation in their digestive, circulatory and immune systems. In addition to the health benefits, cinnamon fragrance also has the effect of a mosquito repellent. Therefore, when the mixture is ignited, the fragrance and the flavor emitted from it soothes and alleviates any physical or mental discomforts of persons who inhale or consume same, eliminating any adverse effects that may be caused by the smoke and chemical discharges present in prior art disclosures.

Further, theCinnamomumgenus being a type of plant on which chemical use to cultivate it is minimal to none the chemical emission when ignited is minimal to none. As a result, once burned, less ash is left which is also a notable advantage.

In the manufacture of cinnamon quills/sticks and oil, most of the organs of the plants in theCinnamomumgenus become industrial waste and thus under-utilized. Therefore, using these not only help preserve the environment but is also inexpensive.

In the present invention, the composition, which is preferably compressed into a lump form, is composed of a mass of combustible wood particles and particles of organs of a plant in theCinnamomumgenus bonded by compression, whereby upon ignition the said particles undergo decomposition to liberate the moisture, releasing an aromatic cinnamon fragrance and a smoky cinnamon flavor, providing therapeutic effects on persons inhaling the fragrance and tasting the flavor from the food.

The mixture can be used in many fuel sources such as barbeque briquettes, pellets, for smoking Shisha, in the fire place, fuel for boilers for industrial use, as an admixture for fire starters, for campfires, as an admixture for making candles, as incense, as a mosquito and insect repellant etc.

The combustible wood particles may be obtained from any hard or soft wood. In the present invention wood particles from a plant in theCinnamomumgenus is preferred in order to maximize the effect of the invention. The size of the wood particles may vary from barks, shavings to saw dust depending on the requirement and availability.

TheCinnamomumgenus includes many varieties which may be used in the present invention such as Cassia etc. Whilst other forms may also be used, Ceylon Cinnamon/Cinnamomum zeylanicum,Cinnamomum verumwould give the maximum effect of the invention as it is the purest form of theCinnamomumgenus.

Particles of organs of a plant in theCinnamomumgenus include leaves, stems, inner bark, shavings from the inner bark, sawdust of inner bark, shavings from the outer bark, cinnamon chips, cinnamon quillings, cinnamon powder and flowers. Most of these can be obtained as by-products from the production of cinnamon sticks/quills & cinnamon essential oils.

