How to Make a Botanical Merriment Mushroom Elixir

Handmade gifts always carry a special kind of meaning — especially when they’re crafted with intention, natural ingredients, and a touch of old-world herbal tradition.

This Botanical Merriment Mushroom Elixir was created by infusionist and content creator Selima Harleston Lust of Iwilla Remedy. This recipe blends the art of dual-extraction with the precision and ease of the LĒVO II+ infusion machine. The result is a flavorful and functional reishi, chaga, and turkey tail mushroom elixir perfect for gifting during the winter months.

Combining a warm water decoction with an alcohol extraction, this elixir captures the earthy character and deep, robust qualities of functional mushrooms, such as Reishi, Chaga, and Turkey Tail. This homemade elixir is shelf-stable and excellent in a gift basket, as an apothecary-themed present, or as a handcrafted gift for friends and family.

 

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Why This Elixir Is a Special Handmade Gift

Modern gifting often leans toward quick purchases and last-minute finds. Handcrafted pieces like this elixir feel personal and heartfelt because they are:

• Unique and small-batch
• Beautiful when bottled
• Rooted in traditional herbal craft
• Easy to customize with labels and tags
• A lovely companion to other cozy winter items (tea blends, hot cocoa mixes, candles, homemade treats, etc.)

Thanks to the LĒVO II+, the most time-intensive step — the long, gentle water decoction — becomes a completely hands-off process.

 

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What Is a Decoction?

Mushrooms like Reishi, Chaga, and Turkey Tail have long histories in global herbal traditions, particularly for wintertime preparations. Because they’re dense and woody, they’re typically extracted using long, slow, heated water infusions — also known as decoctions.

• Method - It is a process of extraction for woody ingredients, such as Reishi, Chaga, and Turkey Tail mushrooms.
• Purpose - It is used to capture the earthy character, deep, robust qualities, and botanical character of the ingredients.
• Tradition - It is rooted in traditional herbal craft, particularly for wintertime preparations.

The LĒVO II+ Infusion Machine makes this simple by:

• Maintaining a consistent 150°F
• Running a 4-hour water infusion cycle
• Allowing for clean straining
• Preventing evaporation or over-reduction
  

Once infused using the LEVO process, the decoction is simmered on the stovetop to concentrate its flavor and botanical character — creating a rich base for the final elixir.

 

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The Second Extraction: Alcohol + Glycerin

After the water infusion, the mushrooms (referred to as the “marc”) are combined with alcohol and a touch of glycerin. This traditional dual-extraction technique is common in herbal crafting and helps bring together different aspects of the mushrooms’ natural qualities.

Shaken daily over several weeks, the mixture slowly transforms into a deep, richly colored extract with aromatic and earthy notes. Once strained and bottled, it becomes a polished, apothecary-style elixir ready for gifting.

 

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Ideas for Gifting Your Botanical Elixir

Part of the magic of this project is how beautiful it looks when packaged. Try:

• Bottling in 1–2 oz amber dropper bottles
• Adding handwritten or printed labels
• Including a card describing how it was made
• Pairing it with tea, spices, homemade blends, or cozy seasonal accents
• Tucking it into a winter-themed gift basket

This kind of gift feels personal, artisanal, and deeply thoughtful — perfect for anyone who appreciates herbal craft, kitchen alchemy, or seasonal rituals. For more seasonal recipes, check out the LĒVO Holiday Guide to Infused DIY Gifts & Recipes.

 

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Tools & Ingredients Used in This Recipe

• LĒVO II+ — for a clean, precise water infusion
• LĒVO Potency Pod — ideal for holding dried mushrooms
• Reishi, Chaga & Turkey Tail Mushrooms — a classic combination used in many traditional herbal preparations
• Everclear + Vegetable Glycerin — for the dual-extraction phase
• Glass Amber Bottles — for beautiful gift presentation
  

 

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Final Thoughts

The Botanical Merriment Mushroom Elixir is a beautiful fusion of traditional extraction methods and modern LĒVO technology. It’s a project rooted in seasonal ritual, handcrafted creativity, and natural ingredients — making it a standout addition to any holiday gifting lineup.

Whether you’re an experienced maker or trying your hand at botanical craft for the first time, this elixir offers a meaningful, cozy way to create something special for the people you love.

 

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Get the Full Step-by-Step Mushroom Elixir Recipe

You can find the complete ingredients, infusion steps, and instructions here: