If a person partook of a "Mezonot" food and is thus required to recite the Beracha of "Al Ha'miheya," but he mistakenly recited the Beracha of "Al Ha'etz" (the Beracha recited after eating one of the special fruits of Israel), has he fulfilled his obligation, or must he then recite "Al Ha'miheya"?
Rabbi Moshe Halevi (Israel, 1961-2001), in his work Birkat Hashem (vol. 2, p. 258), rules that in such a case one fulfills his obligation, despite the fact that he recited the incorrect text. The text of "Al Ha'etz" includes the phrase "Ve'al Tenuvat Ha'sadeh" – "for the produce of the field" – which refers generically to all foods that originate from the ground. As such, the recitation of this Beracha – though it was instituted for only the special fruits of the Land of Israel – covers all foods that had grown from the ground, including grain. Hence, if a person mistakenly recited this Beracha instead of the Beracha of "Al Ha'miheya," he has fulfilled his obligation and should not then recite "Al Ha'miheya."
A similar Halacha applies in a case where one recited "Al Ha'miheya" but mistakenly concluded the Beracha with "Al Ha'aretz Ve'al Ha'perot" instead of the proper text, "Al Ha'aretz Ve'al Ha'miheya." Here, too, the individual has fulfilled his obligation despite the erroneous text, because the term "Perot" – literally, "fruits" – can refer generically to all produce grown from the ground. This text thus covers even grain products, such that one who partook of grain products fulfills his obligation through the recitation of this phrase.
If a person partook of grain products and he cannot remember whether or not he recited "Al Ha'miheya," he should assume that he did recite the Beracha. Even though there are opinions which some authorities maintain that eating grain products constitutes a Torah obligation, we generally assume that this requirement applies only on the level of Rabbinic enactment. As such, in cases of uncertainty we may be lenient and assume that the obligation has already been fulfilled. Hence, in cases where one is uncertain as to whether he must recite "Al Ha'miheya" he should not recite the Beracha, and rather rely on the possibility that he bears no obligation in this regard.
Summary: If a person ate a Mezonot item and mistakenly recited the Beracha of "Al Ha'etz" instead of "Al Ha'miheya," he has fulfilled his obligation and does not need to recite a new Beracha. This similarly applies to one who recited "Al Ha'miheya" as required but mistakenly concluded with the phrase "Al Ha'aretz Ve'al Ha'perot." If one partook of grain products requiring "Al Ha'miheya" and cannot remember whether he already recited "Al Ha'miheya," he should assume that he did recite the Beracha, such that he bears no obligation to recite it at this point.
