Terpene profiles will soon be commonplace among cannabis consumers. Rare profiles with a variety of terpenes comprise exotic cannabis chemovars — also known as strains. Albeit less common, some exotic cannabis genetics and at least one traditional cultivar can produce humulene.
Humulene is closely related to the more common terpene, b-caryophyllene. Due to a different double bond in their chemical structure, the two related molecules present vastly different effects. Unlike caryophyllene, though, humulene does not bind to cannabinoid receptors.
Cannabis cultivars with humulene
Afghan Kush
Potent strains derive from the Afghanistan/Pakistan border near the Hindu Kush mountains. Cannabis’s history in the region stretches back centuries, with landrace genetics still found in parts of Afghanistan. And the Hindu Kush mountain system is the birthplace of the strongest cannabis varieties.
Cultivars from Afghanistan were available in America as early as the 1960s. But the genetic stunk like dead skunk, slowing the strain’s spread in the West.
Thiols and myrcene produce the Indica’s pungent and sweet profile. But some Afghanistan cultivars — even crossed with a BC OG Kush — are more spicy and earthy with their b-caryophyllene and humulene backgrounds.
Death Bubba
Death Bubba crosses Bubba Kush with the Skunk derivative, Deathstar. Bubba Kush derives from a cut of Northern Lights and OG Kush back in 1996, according to legend.
Death Bubba is, therefore, dominant in Hindu and OG-based genetics, with a slight backdrop of Mexican and Columbian. And mild sedation following a pungent aroma and taste agrees with the cultivar’s heritage.
Death Bubba genetics can produce cannabis dominant in myrcene, limonene, and caryophyllene or humulene with undertones of bisabolol or camphene.
Slurricane
Bred by In House Genetics, Slurricane propagates from Purple Punch crossed with a Do-si-Dos. Grapes and acrid stone fruits best describe Slurricane’s flavour and aroma. And while the strain’s genetics are diverse, its name comes from a hurricane-like effect.
Breeders began propagating prime cultivars and keeping their parent’s ID a secret by the 1980s. Strains today, therefore, contain many mysterious landrace ancestors as a result of proprietary cultivations.
A Phylos Biosciences genetic report, however, puts Gold Columbian as one of the most genetically distant cultivars from a Slurricane cut. Throughout the family tree, Hindu, Skunk, and OG genetics likely dominate this complex cultivar. Although South Africa’s Durban genetics also tie into Slurricane.
Peanut Butter Mac and humulene
Cuts of PB MAC can express a unique secondary profile featuring humulene. Peanut Butter Breath by ThugPug Genetics crosses with Miracle Alien Cookies (MAC) by Capulator to create Peanut Butter MAC.
Their lineages greatly vary, yet Slurricane shares multiple family members with Peanut Butter strains. Do-si-dos and Mendo Purps are common ancestors, for example. And while various landraces mix into MAC. Capulator bred Miracle Alien Cookies using a cross of Columbian and the Hindu forward, Starfighter.
Peanut Butter MAC is suitable for anyone who enjoys a PB&J on a forested hike. Caryophyllene, humulene, and limonene are predominant throughout the experience. Humulene and farnesene are more common in hops than cannabis, yet both terpenes are present in some cuts of PB MAC.
Conclusion
Cannabis appears to produce humulene when Afghanistan genetics cross into various OG Kush cultivars. Of course, this review cannot dive into a specific strain’s complex genetic realm.