Purple Shake
An undocumented name circulating in cannabis retail with no verifiable breeder or chemotype data.
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Purple Shake is not a documented cultivar—there's no breeder of record, no seed line, and no published chemotype. The name may refer to purple-phenotype trim or small buds rather than a distinct strain. If you see it for sale, verify the batch with a certificate of analysis and check who claims to have bred or propagated it. The 'purple' label does not predict effects or potency.
What we could verify
Purple Shake does not appear in peer-reviewed strain registries, major seedbank catalogs, state testing databases, or breeder archives. We found no published chemotype data, genetic lineage, or cultivation records under this name No data.
The name circulates informally in dispensaries and online grower communities, but we could not locate a company, seedbank, or breeder claiming ownership or documentation of a Purple Shake line. This is not uncommon in the cannabis market—cultivar names are unregulated, and genetic studies have shown that samples sold under the same name can be genetically unrelated, while different names can apply to nearly identical plants [1] Strong evidence.
What the name suggests—and why that isn't evidence
'Shake' in cannabis slang refers to loose, broken-up flower or trim that collects at the bottom of a package. Some vendors may use 'Purple Shake' literally—as a SKU for small buds or trim from purple-phenotype plants—rather than as a distinct genetic line.
'Purple' suggests visual appearance, not chemistry or effect. The folklore that purple indicates high potency, sedation, or a specific terpene profile is widespread but not supported. A 2015 analysis by Hazekamp et al. found that color does not correlate reliably with cannabinoid or terpene profiles [2] Strong evidence. Purple coloration is driven by anthocyanin pigments, which accumulate under cooler temperatures in some cultivars, but this is a cosmetic trait Weak / limited. It does not predict potency, flavor, or effect.
The claim that indica and sativa strains reliably produce different effects is also folklore. A 2022 study in PLOS ONE found that commercial strain names do not reliably predict cannabinoid or terpene profiles [3] Strong evidence.
How to verify if you see it for sale
If a retailer offers Purple Shake, ask for:
- A certificate of analysis — a lab report showing actual THC, CBD, and terpene content of the specific batch. This is the only reliable measure of what you are buying.
- Breeder or propagator information — who claims to have originated or stabilized this line? A reputable source will provide a name, contact, or documented record.
- Batch testing results — cannabis chemistry varies dramatically between phenotypes and growing runs of the same named cultivar. A single lab report for one batch does not apply to another batch, even if labeled the same Strong evidence.
- Lineage or parent strains — if the vendor claims specific genetics, ask for documentation. Speculation based on appearance is not lineage.
If none of this is available, treat the product as an unknown plant. Judge it by its chemistry and your own response, not its name.
Similar documented strains
If you are looking for purple cultivars with published records, consider:
- Granddaddy Purple — well-documented breeder (Ken Estes), stable lineage, consistent market presence since the early 2000s.
- Purple Punch — clearly credited to In House Genetics, widely tested and available from major seedbanks.
Both have chemotype data from independent lab testing and are traceable to identifiable breeders. That is the standard you should expect.
Frequently asked questions
Is Purple Shake an indica or sativa?
We don't know, because there is no documented line. Regardless, the indica/sativa distinction does not reliably predict effects or chemistry—see The Indica/Sativa Myth for detail.
What is the THC level?
Not documented. If you purchase it, ask the retailer for a certificate of analysis showing the actual THC content of that batch.
Who bred Purple Shake?
No breeder is documented. If you see it for sale, ask the vendor for the name and contact of the person or company that claims to have originated or propagated it.
Why can't you find it if it exists?
Cannabis strain names are unregulated, and many names circulate in small local markets or informal grower networks without appearing in searchable databases or breeder records. It's possible Purple Shake is a real clone circulating in a particular region, but without a breeder of record, chemotype data, or seed availability, we cannot document it as a stable cultivar.
Found it and have proof? Send us a breeder record, lab report, or company page via 'Flag an error' and we'll investigate.
Sources
- Peer-reviewed Schwabe AL, McGlaughlin ME. (2019). Genetic tools weed out misconceptions of strain reliability in Cannabis sativa: implications for a budding industry. Journal of Cannabis Research, 1, 3.
- Peer-reviewed Hazekamp A, Tejkalová K, Papadimitriou S. (2016). Cannabis: From Cultivar to Chemovar II—A Metabolomics Approach to Cannabis Classification. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 1(1), 202–215.
- Peer-reviewed Smith CJ, Vergara D, Keegan B, Jikomes N. (2022). The phytochemical diversity of commercial Cannabis in the United States. PLOS ONE, 17(5), e0267498.
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