Kanut, a committed cannabis brand-producer

Kanut is a Swiss brand of organic-quality CBD cannabis flowers that makes e-liquids from natural extracts of its own flowers.

What quality flowers are we talking about, but also: how did they come to produce CBD vape? We welcome Sylvain Melis, agricultural engineer and co-founder, to answer our questions.

NW: Is Kanut a producer-brand? Could you tell me a little more about it?

In 2018, with François Verdonnet, we launched Chanvre DC a horticultural business, specializing in CBD cannabis cultivation. Our first objective was to produce organic CBD cannabis cuttings and flowers for professionals. In 2020, we realized that there was a major risk in relying solely on the reliability of retailers to promote our high-quality products.

To meet this challenge, we decided to set up our own laboratory, the CDC LAB SA (Chanvre DC LAB), to process and analyze our organic cannabis production. We are now able to manufacture products for our 2 cosmetics brands Hemp DC and Melis&al.as well as for various pharmaceutical labels.

With a view to reducing the risks associated with cannabis use, a number of vaping products have been developed that provide a taste experience similar to that of a joint, without the danger of combustion.

To promote these products and our CBD flowers, but also to promote the social and environmental values we hold dear, we have launched the brand Kanut.

To keep our prices affordable, we offer a fair and direct business relationship to the Kanut community, through our e-shop.

NW: What are your production and processing facilities in Switzerland today?

The brand's first strength is its team: agronomists, horticulturists, biologists, pharmacists, technicians and communicators, all passionate about their specialties.
Since 2018, we've been developing an organic farming system, combining nature, science and technology, inspired by the agricultural philosophy developed by Masanobu Fukuoka.

For cannabis production, we have open-ground plots/tunnels, equipped horticultural greenhouses and an indoor area under LED lights.

For processing, we have GMP-standard premises and a supercritical CO2 extractor (SFE Process). This has been adapted for cold extraction, to provide high-quality extracts with a high terpene content.

Extraction/purification room at CDC LAB, Plan-Les-Ouates, Geneva

NW: What about your flowers and products? Are they compatible with French law? Or are they for the Swiss market only?

We grow cannabis varieties with less than 1% THC, some of which are compatible with French law (THC< 0.3%). Since our beginnings, we've been selecting these varieties for their remarkable taste and cannabinoid levels (from 0.2 to 1% THC). We've obtained several interesting varieties and have just released «Honey Kush» (9% CBD, <0.3% THC), available on our e-shop.

During 2023, new varieties compatible with French law will be offered. In the meantime, French customers can test the flavors of our other varieties, thanks to our 3 CBD e-liquids (Ketama, Mango Punch and Tangie Juice; < 0.2% THC; 7% CBD) containing extracts of their flowers.

NW: How do you choose the equipment that goes with your vape products?

We tested a large number of vaporizers and chose the Pod Kroma Z (Innokin), which reproduces the quality of our CBD e-liquids very well, while producing a beautiful vapor.

We have also launched a collaboration with the French CBD e-liquid brand, « Marie-Jeanne« . The combination of our CBD e-liquids with their practical, elegant Noïd pen delivers the full flavor of our varieties.

As part of our efforts to reduce the risks associated with combustion, we also offer two vaporizers which, in addition to being medically recognized, highlight the quality of our flowers: the Volcano and Migthy from Storz&Bickel.

Tangie Juice and Mango Punch ranges: pack noïd+ e-liquide 10ml , sachet 4g fleurs indoors, e-liquide 10ml

NW: What sets Kanut apart from other offerings in the crowded CBD market?

1) 100% Kanut flowers are produced by us in our organic growing system inspired by Mr. Fukuoka's philosophy.

2) The organic substrate we've developed makes it possible to obtain cannabis flowers with exceptional flavours by watering only. The awards won by Chanvre DC at the CannaSwissCup 2020/2021 - 1st, 3rd and 4th place in the greenhouse category - demonstrated that our approach clearly stands out in terms of quality.

Flowering room, double biodegradable pots with organic Kanut substrate
(38 plants under 360W LED/m2 -> sub-irrigated with water only, 4th week of flowering)

4) We put a lot of effort into developing our e-liquids from our best varieties.

5) We took part in a Swiss study conducted by Unisanté Lausanne and the FOPH, which will soon be published. This study showed that the transfer of cannabinoids in the vapor of our e-liquids is close to 100%, whereas in the smoke of a pure joint, it is limited to ~30%. In other words, a puff of one of our e-liquids with 7% of CBD is equivalent to a puff of a pure joint with over 20% of CBD.

6) The vapor in our e-liquids contains virtually no toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) compared with the smoke from burning a joint.

In conclusion, the quality of our products, respect for the consumer and the environment are important to us. As a brand-producer, we advocate local production and organic self-cultivation of cannabis, as well as the exchange of agronomic knowledge and genetic resources.

With our rigorous selection program and promising developments in vaper products, we have plenty to surprise you in 2023, without neglecting your good health resolutions.

Instagram: Kanut_official
Facebook : Kanut_official