Superior type of blood, but essentially different (5)
I believe the answer is:
abbot
'superior' is the definition.
(abbot is a kind of superior)
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for abbot that I've seen before include "head in order" , "Supervisor of brothers" , "Convent leader, male" , "Head of a religious community" , "Monastic chief" .)