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Whenever I go out to eat, I look for uniqueness – like herbaceous dipping oils, lavender lattes, or spicy chile honey – on the menu. And while I love a luxe dining experience, I recently discovered that I can replicate my favorites at home – for much cheaper. You can imagine my excitement when I finally got my hands on the LĒVO II, which has allowed me to infuse oils, butters, honeys, and milks with tons of different herbs and botanicals. I never thought I would have this title, but here I am, your newly-declared infusiast.ﾠ
Infusiast (n.) //:
- Someone who gets immense satisfaction and joy from making culinary and wellness-oriented infused products, at home.
- A member in the community of LĒVO-lovers that has been growing since 2017, when Founder Chrissy Bellman, launched a product that makes home infusions easier and more effective.
A Wise Old Sage Once Told Me…
There are two make-it-or-break-it features that I require of any kitchen gadget. First, it has to be easy to use. Second, it has to be easy to clean.
The LĒVO II ($299.99) passes both tests and checks even more boxes. While I’m typically a manual-reader, I found this system intuitive to set up. I especially love that I can control the machine from my phone with the LĒVO II App. While it took me a moment to figure out, I’m now a huge fan of the recipes and recommendations it offers. Here’s how it works:
Step 1.
Choose your ingredients. You can use fresh herbs, dried herbs, spices, nuts, flowers, peppers, mushrooms or dried fruits. The possibilities are endless.
Step 2.
Add your carrier. LĒVO II is capable of dealing with many bases, from oils and butters to milk, honey, vinegars or lotions!
Step 3.
Choose your settings. It has 3 settings: dry, activate, and infuse. For fresh herbs, you will want to dry them first, and then infuse. This process of heating and steeping, allowing for maximum infusion without added emulsifiers, solvents, or additives. Just pure goodness. If you’re using cannabis, you will want to use the activate setting and then infuse.
Step 4.
Press Start. Sit back and relax – the LĒVO II is quietly going about its work. When it shows its ready, hold down the dropper button to squeeze out every last drop.
Step 5.
Enjoy!
Regarding clean up, the LĒVO II has several removable parts, all of which are dishwasher safe. This includes the 16 oz. ceramic coated slanted reservoir that dispenses nearly every last drop, silicone stirrer that reduces aeration, and power pod and pod protector, which secure your herbs of choice to achieve perfect smooth infusions every time. LĒVO's patented gravity dispenser reduces air bubbles and moisture, which also extends the shelf life of your infusion. Finally, the top latch keeps all the smells within the oil and not seeping throughout the kitchen.
The Perfect Thyme And Place
LĒVO has the potential to take any kitchen experience to a new level. Not only does it elevate every recipe, but its sleek design and gorgeous shades will fit right into your kitchen. It comes in 6 colorways, including shimmery pink, transparent green, pacific blue, licorice black, honey cream, honey red, and garden green. Being a devoted plant mom, I snagged the matte garden green and couldn’t wait to hit the kitchen.
I wasn’t previously aware of how long or challenging a typical infusion process could be. Now that I know, I find the LĒVO II all the more impressive: if you decide to let your infusion sit, it could take a week to dry the herbs and then several more weeks to infuse. Or, if you use the traditional double boil method, you need to be constantly attentive for at least an hour to prevent boiling or burning. Instead, the LĒVO II gave me the freedom to go about my day freely. After a few short hours (most of which I didn’t even spend in the kitchen), I had made a restaurant level meal all on my own!
I started off with a simple thyme infused olive oil. It turned out beautifully fragrant and rich. It both elevated a simple pasta dish and made for a delicious focaccia dipping oil – my family loved it. Next, I brought the heat with a spicy chili oil. I took a shortcut by using already-dried red chiles (that’s what I had at the time in my kitchen), you can dry your own if you’re devoted to the homemade-from-start-to-finish lifestyle. This was my personal favorite because it added a flavorful kick to my ravioli dish without the texture of red chile flakes that I find unpleasant.
I reached the apex of my first infusion experience when I combined the leftover thyme-infused oil and chile oil in a pasta dish. I had so much fun getting creative in the kitchen, and my Italian family was so proud of the finished work. I will never be able to go back to plain old ways. I’m an official infusiast, and you would be too with the help of a LĒVO II!
What Can’t It Do!
After tiring all the traditional Italian herbs, I made a list of what I wanted to make next. I’m a honey lover and can’t wait to infuse a batch with eucalyptus, ginger, and mint. I plan to pair it with cinnamon, nutmeg, and turmeric-infused milk for the golden latte of my dreams. My hopes are high – and I have confidence the LĒVO will deliver.
If you’re not much of a foodie, the LĒVO can be used for homemade soaps and lotions, too. I love knowing that my skincare products don't have any harsh chemicals, dyes, or artificial fragrances when I make them myself.
Or, if you’re an aspiring foodie, check out these sure-to-be delicious recipe suggestions:
Vegan French Toast
Gluten Free Gingerbread Loaf
Filipino Chicken Adobo
Cilantro Jalapeño Cheese Crisps
5 more reasons to infuse with LĒVO:
1. I used some dried herbs as a crisp topping to my pasta dish– truly nothing goes to waste.
2. Precise time and temperature controls prevent burning or boiling – this is a lifesaver for someone like me who gets easily distracted.
3. LĒVO is revolutionizing the way we can use home-infusions using ingredients that benefit the mind and the body.
4. Pro tip: use an extra Power Pod to double the infusion strength within the same time.
5. If you’re not 100% satisfied within the first 30 days of receiving your LĒVO, you can return it, no questions asked.
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