Cultivars, chemovars, and chemotypes: Understanding the Differences
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Reading time 4 min
CONTENTS
Cultivar, chemovar, and chemotype— these are words you may never have heard before, but they’re very important and help you better understand what you’re actually buying. Mama explains these differences in simple terms so you can understand cannabis and CBD with a more informed eye.
Things to remember
A cultivar refers to a plant that has been selected and stabilized by humans.
Chemotype classifies cannabis based on its dominant cannabinoid.
Chemovar describes a more comprehensive chemical profile that includes cannabinoids and terpenes.
Why are these terms so important?
The word "variety" is no longer always enough
For a long time, cannabis has mainly been presented in the form of famous strains such as White Widow, Haze, Amnesia, OG Kush, and many others. These names remain popular, easy to remember, and commercially useful. The problem is thatthey don’t always accurately describe what the plant contains.
Two products with the same name may sometimes have different profiles depending on genetics, cultivation, harvesting, or drying. In other words, a marketing name doesn’t necessarily guarantee an identical experience. This is where more specific terms come into play.
A naturally complex plant
Cannabis is a highly variable plant. Depending on the breeding done over the decades, there are very different profiles: some are higher in CBD, more aromatic, richer in certain terpenes, or more balanced.
This variety is exciting, but it also creates confusion for consumers. You might think you’reyou’re buying two similar products when their ingredients are actually quite different.
Better inform consumers
The terms "cultivar," "chemotype," and "chemovar" are used precisely to clarify these matters. They allow us toprovide more precise information about the plant. For someone looking for CBD, consistency, or a specific profile, this is invaluable.
The cultivar: a plant selected by humans
What does "cultivar" mean?
The word "cultivar" comes from cultivated variety, or “variété cultivée” in French. In horticulture, it refers to a plant selected by humans to retain certain characteristics. This may include size, yield, aroma, resistance, or cannabinoid composition.
The term applies to the plant market in general, not just for cannabis. We also talk about cultivars for roses, tomatoes, or fruit trees.
Why is this word more accurate than the word "variety"?
In everyday language, the term "variety" is generally used. But when it comes to modern cannabis, “cultivar” is often a more precise term.
Why? Because most of the plants available today are the result of crossbreeding, selection, and stabilization carried out by growers. They did not simply arise naturally. The word “cultivar” therefore reflects human intervention.
What this means for you
When you read "cultivar," you understand thatwe’re talking about a cultivated strain. This doesn’t automatically indicate the effects or aromas, but it identifies the plant’s horticultural origin.
Chemotype: classification based on the dominant cannabinoid
A simple and straightforward read
The term "chemotype" literally means chemical type. Here, the plant is classified based on the primary cannabinoid it contains. It’s a simple, quick, and useful way to understand a product’s overall profile, often more revealing than a brand name.
The main chemotypes of cannabis
We generally distinguish several major groups:
Type 1 refers to plants that are THC-dominant.
Type 2 refers to profiles with a balanced ratio of THC to CBD.
Type 3 refers to plants that are CBD-dominant, which are often sought after in wellness hemp.
There are also other types based on CBG or with very low cannabinoid content.
If you want to buy CBD, knowing that the product you’re looking at belongs to a CBD-dominant chemotype is already a great starting point. You immediately understand the product’s purpose without having to analyze everything else. It’s simple, accessible, and practical.
The chemovar: the most precise version
A more comprehensive chemical profile
A chemovar goes beyond a chemotype. It considers not only the dominant cannabinoid, but range of compounds present in the plant.
It often contains the main cannabinoids and allows you to learn all about the dominant terpenes . It therefore provides a much more detailed analysis.
Why are terpenes important?
Terpenes are the plant’s natural aromatic molecules. They are what contribute to the fruity, woody, citrusy, floral, or spicy notes.
But they are also of interest to researchers because of their potential interactions with cannabinoids. This is known as the entourage effect.
The chemovar therefore includes elements that the name of a variety alone does not reveal.
Practical example
Two CBD flowers with a 10% concentration can produce different effects if their terpenes vary significantly.
One may seem fresher and livelier, while the other is rounder and more enveloping in terms of aroma.
The chemovar helps us understand this distinction.
Why are these differences important to you, the consumer?
Once you understand these concepts, you’re no longer just choosing a name—you’re now considering the product’s logic.
A cultivar tells you about the lineage. A chemotype indicates the dominant cannabinoid. A chemovar provides a more detailed picture. This allows you to make more informed purchasing decisions.
A lot of frustration stems from vague expectations. We choose a well-known brand, only to discover a product that’s different from what we imagined. With more precise information, you can bridge the gap between promise and reality.
Finally, this information helps you compare products more effectively. Two inexpensive CBD flowers may look similar, but their chemovar may tell a different story.
Article written by Benjamin Poirel-Nadal
Passionate about natural well-being and plants with multiple virtues, I've been exploring the benefits of CBD and its various forms for several years.
My aim? To share with you clear information, honest opinions and practical advice to help you integrate CBD into your daily life with confidence and serenity.
