Infusiast Spotlight: Teshauna from Wholethyme Kitchen

From culinary experts to holistic healers, edible lovers and beyond, the LĒVO Love Club community is what makes our small business so knowledgable and special.

As part of a recurring series, we’re shining a spotlight on infüsiasts to share their tips, tricks & infusion journeys. This month, we talked to Teshauna, the multifaceted creator of Wholethyme Kitchen and Halfway Healing. 

"Since using LĒVO, my production process became 10x smoother. I no longer have to wait 3 months to infuse oils with herbs. I literally put the herbs in, press play and walk away, okay."

 

 

Read our interview with Teshauna below!

 

 

 

Tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do!

Greetings everyone, my name is Teshauna and I am a multifaceted scientist, artist, and student of life. I am currently growing and evolving through multiple iterations of my spirit and I can say that these days, I enjoy showing up as a natural nurturer and creator. When I am not working, I am cultivating the art of being. Showing up as who I am, without any need to suppress my true essence.

My kitchen journey began early on in life. To be honest, I used to watch the food network day in and day out, sauté hot dogs with old bay and parsley and think I was somebody’s five star chef. I mean, you couldn’t tell me anything. Being firmly rooted in a West Indian household, learning how to cook was inevitable. I am grateful for the abundance of home economic skills that my household possessed and passed down to me.

I learned that food was not just food; it was a deliberate act of care. A direct way to tend to someone’s well being. Through cooking for others, I can shift into a selfless state of existence where I put love at the forefront and allow it to guide me throughout the preparation of the meal. Flavors, colors, scents, sounds- food stimulates all of our senses whether we notice it or not. Through my cooking, I invite the foodie to a sacred experience with their food. This will naturally shift them into a conscious, holistic approach that will inspire them to be more mindful of what they are consuming.

Whether it be in the kitchen or behind the camera, I am looking forward to sharing my knowledge and lifestyle gems with you all.

 

 

How did you get started with infusion?

My infusion journey started as a child, too. I began with gentle herbs like chamomile, peppermint and hibiscus and branched out there after. I enjoyed the taste of teas at the time however, it was not until I grew older that I actually learned about the medicinal benefits of them. 

My grandmother used to make a Caribbean beverage called sorrel every year during the holidays packed with hibiscus, cinnamon, ginger and love. Once I saw her do it, it became a tradition that I followed wherever I went when I wasn’t with her. 🤎

 

What was your first experience with LĒVO like?

My first experience with LĒVO was honestly mind blowing. Look, I’m scrolling on the gram and I saw my homegirl post this machine that looked like a coffee maker for herbal infusions and I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was like, is it really that simple? What’s the catch? Let me find out what this joint is hitting on for myself lol. 

Next thing you know, within a week my LĒVO II was sitting on my doorstep waiting for me.

My first infusion was with medicated flowers and coconut oil. I used the oil in a maca brownie recipe and whew, my homegirl and I were blown away. From the simplicity of the infusion process on the consumer to the taste of the final product, I was sold. 

After that, I began experimenting with topical infusions and whipped up herbal infused shea butters + body oils to heal and nurture my skin.

 

"I’m scrolling on the gram and I saw my homegirl post this machine that looked like a coffee maker for herbal infusions and I couldn’t believe my eyes."

 

How did your thriving business come about? Shoutout to a sister WBE,  Wholethyme Kitchen!

Wholethyme Kitchen was created the moment I started preparing meals in my home kitchen and shared them with others. At the time, I did not realize that I was subconsciously creating a business because the act of cooking was second nature. In 2016, I transitioned into a vegan lifestyle and honestly had no clue what I was doing. I used to eat a lot of highly processed vegan food products, french fries from some of my favorite childhood establishments and other random “vegan” dishes that I would come across as I traveled for work. 

The deeper I delved into “veganism” I realized that wholethyme (no pun intended) it was an agenda that I did not align with the way I assumed I did. I knew that deep down, I was shifting my eating to support my body. I no longer wanted to put my body through such rigorous processes for it to metabolize the food that I was eating. It was as if a lightbulb hit one day for me: eat cleaner. No need to try to emulate any meats, seafoods, dairy, etc if it was what I was looking to slowly remove from my lifestyle. Instead of seeking substitution, I yearned for nourishment and that could most certainly be found in a plant based diet. 

In 2019, I took some time off from the world for an introspective retreat that landed me in school where I studied nutrition, food science, agriculture, biology and other sciences that are intrinsically connected to the progression of our people. 

By highlighting the nutritious benefits in the abundance of food that grows from the earth, I knew that this information would benefit my community in more ways than none. On May 5th, 2021, I curated my first plant based Taco Tuesday pop up and in turn created an event that would hold space for foodies who wanted a healthier space to commune around food.

 

 

How has your business been impacted since starting to use your LĒVO?

Since using LĒVO my production process became 10x smoother. I no longer have to wait 3 months to infuse oils with herbs. I literally put the herbs in, press play and walk away, okay. 😌

At the shop in Atlanta every week (576 Lee St SW Atlanta, GA)  I prepare infused brownies, cupcakes and raw key lime cheesecakes that are infused with oils I made with my LĒVO. The best part about it is that I don't have to overthink any part of the process. I can create freely knowing that the science is already taken care of for me. 

On the topical side, my body oil infusions are simplified as well. All in all, without this machine I would be looking at MONTHS for my production timeline as opposed to a few weeks. 🌱

 

How has having a LĒVO made your life easier?  Any unexpected benefit you experienced?

Aside from what I create for my businesses, LĒVO makes being a scientist THAT much more fun too. I’m like hmmm, what am I going to create today. I have these gummy worm molds that I can use to make infused gummy worms. I have these chocolate heart molds that I can use to make rose infused chocolates for lovers.’ I have these ice cube trays that I can use to store herbal butters for easy flavoring in my cooked meals. I truly enjoy the endless possibilities that the brand offers.

 

Is there anything else that you would like to share?

Oooo, yes indeed! So while you all are getting familiar with my plant based company Wholethyme Kitchen, I’d also like to introduce you to Halfway Healing- my yoga and wellness company. I created this space to build a community that centers the importance of mental health through various healing modalities like yin yoga, guided meditations, sip & paints, book clubs and more.

I also use my LĒVO infuser to make our yoga mat spray and our meditation oils. Be sure to follow us on socials @halfwayhealing and visit our website www.halfwayhealing.org to begin your yoga journey with us. Every second and last Sunday of the month I offer virtual donation based yoga classes to get you comfortable with acknowledging the spaces within that you would like to send healing to. No more halfway healing, we got this. 💜

Teshauna's Favorite Infused Recipe