Chemotype Calculator

Q: What does it mean if my code is invalid?

A valid chemotype contains exactly six digits from 1 to 6, each exactly once. If a digit is missing or appears twice, the code is incorrectly noted or not a real chemotype.

Q: Can the same chemotype still act differently in two products?

Yes. Origin, harvest quality, plant part, storage, and preparation additionally influence the experience. The chemotype describes the direction but not the entire product quality.

Q: Is every variety with a Tudei indication automatically unsuitable?

For everyday, predictable consumption, an early DHM proportion is usually considered a clear warning signal. That is why Tudei is generally distinguished from Noble varieties.

Enter Chemotype

6 digits from 1-6, each exactly once

How to read the chemotype correctly

A chemotype is not a school grade, but a pattern. The first two positions are particularly important because they indicate the dominant kavalactones and thus the direction of the effect.

The first digits count the most

Position 1 and 2 show which kavalactones shape the character of a variety. This is often where it is decided whether a variety has a more heady, heavy, or problematic effect.

An early 5 is a warning signal

Dihydromethysticin in position 1 or 2 is a classic indicator of Tudei profiles with longer and often more unpleasant effects.

The code helps, but does not replace quality testing

Even a good chemotype says nothing about freshness, origin, plant part, or processing. Always read the code together with the product quality.

Relevant deep dives

Chemotypes in detail

Here you will find the basic logic behind the six kavalactones and their positions in the code.

Understand chemotypes

Comparing variety profiles

If you want to know how chemotypes express themselves in real varieties, variety profiles are the next step.

Go to the variety profiles

Consider safety

Especially with Tudei suspicion, it is worth looking at risks, side effects, and classification.

Read about safety

Brief orientation to the chemotype

How it works

The chemotype is a 6-digit code that lists the six main kavalactones in descending order of their concentration. The first digit represents the kavalactone with the highest concentration, the last one for the lowest.

The main rules:

Position 1 = 4 (Kavain): "Heady" Kava – mental effect, focus, anxiety relief
Position 1 = 2 (DHK): "Heavy" Kava – physical effect, muscle relaxation
Position 1 or 2 = 5 (DHM): ⚠️ Tudei Kava – very long effect, possible side effects

Example Chemotypes

Click on an example chemotype to analyze it:

Kavalactone Legend

Overview of all six main kavalactones and their effects:

1

DMY

Desmethoxyyangonin

Focus & Euphoria

Increases dopamine, promotes focus and mild euphoria

2

DHK

Dihydrokavain

Muscle Relaxation

Strong muscle relaxation and pain-relieving effect

3

Y

Yangonin

CB1 Activity

Acts on the endocannabinoid system, mildly stimulating

4

K

Kavain

Anxiolytic

Main active ingredient for anxiety relief and mental clarity

5

DHM

Dihydromethysticin

Long Sedating

Strongly sedating, slower breakdown – Tudei marker

6

M

Methysticin

Sedating

Sedating and neuroprotective

Note: This analysis is based on general guidelines. The actual effect may vary depending on quality, preparation, and individual sensitivity. For detailed information, visit our page on the Chemotype System.

Based on studies by

Dr. Vincent Lebot

ORCID

CIRAD, French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development

View profile →

With contributions from

Christopher McCurdy

This wiki is a curated resource that synthesizes research from peer-reviewed studies and expert researchers. It is not written by the researchers listed above, but rather based on their published work.

Scientific Sources

The information on this page is based on the following scientific studies and publications:

Measuring the Chemical and Cytotoxic Variability of Commercially Available Kava (Piper methysticum G. Forster)

Unknown (Unknown) – Unknown

View study

Kava: The Pacific Elixir - The Definitive Guide to Its Ethnobotany, History, and Chemistry

Vincent Lebot, Mark Merlin, Lamont Lindstrom (1997) – Yale University Press