DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 866 KB)
Does One Recite a Beracha Over Tea and Coffee Drunk After a Meal If Ha'Mosi Was Recited ?

The Beracha of "Ha’mosi" recited over bread covers all beverages that one drinks during the meal, with the exception of wine. And thus when one drinks during a meal that includes bread, he does not recite "She’hakol" over the beverage, as the beverage is covered by the Beracha of "Ha’mosi" recited at the beginning of the meal. This applies to all beverages, as mentioned, the only exception being wine.

However, a question arises in the common case of one who drinks tea or coffee after the meal, before Birkat Ha’mazon. (It goes without saying that once a person recites Birkat Ha’mazon, he must recite new Berachot over anything he eats or drinks subsequently.) Tea or coffee drunk after one has finished eating cannot really be said to be part of the meal, and it is thus questionable whether the Beracha of "Ha’mosi" covers these beverages in such a case. Due to this question, the Mishna Berura (Rav Yisrael Meir Kagan of Radin, 1839-1933), in his discussion of this subject (174:39), writes that one should avoid the problem by first reciting "She’hakol" on a dessert food, such as a candy, which is certainly not included in the Beracha of "Ha’mosi." When reciting the "She’hakol," he should have in mind to cover the tea or coffee, and this way he certainly does not have to recite a Beracha over the beverage. Another solution is to first recite Birkat Ha’mazon before drinking the tea of coffee, and then recite the Beracha of "She’hakol" before drinking. This is the ruling of several other authorities, as well, including the Kaf Ha’haim (174:40) and the Nehar Misrayim. This is also the position taken by Hacham Ovadia Yosef in his Yabia Omer (vol. 5, 17:2).

This Halacha is discussed in Yalkut Yosef – Berachot (vol. 2, p. 40; listen to audio recording for precise citation), which adds that if one does drink tea or coffee after a meal before reciting Birkat Ha’mazon, and he does not first recite a Beracha over a dessert, then he does not recite a Beracha over the beverage. In such a case, we follow the standard rule of "Safek Berachot Le’hakel," that we do not recite a Beracha in a situation of uncertainty.

It must be mentioned that this discussion does not apply to the nighttime and morning Shabbat and Yom Tob meals, which begin with the recitation of Kiddush. The Beracha over wine recited with Kiddush covers all beverages drunk henceforth, until Birkat Ha’mazon, irrespective of whether the beverages can be formally considered part of the meal. Therefore, if one drinks tea or coffee after Friday night dinner or Shabbat lunch, he certainly does not recite a Beracha and does not have to follow the suggestions mentioned above.

Summary: If one drinks tea coffee after a meal, he should preferably first recite Birkat Ha’mazon, as otherwise it is questionable whether he needs to recite a Beracha over the beverage. Alternatively, he can recite "Shehakol" over a candy and have in mind for the Beracha to cover the drink. If he does not follow either option, then he does not recite a Beracha over the beverage. This does not apply on Shabbat or Yom Tob when one recited Kiddush at the beginning of the meal, as the Beracha over the wine in Kiddush covers all beverages drunk subsequently.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Hanukah – May One Use the Light of the Hanukah Candles if There’s a Power Failure?
Hanukah – The Order of Preference When Choosing a Menorah; Using Coagulated Oil
Hanukah Candles – The Proper Time for Lighting, and the Suitable Oils and Wicks
Hanukah – May Inedible Olive Oil be Used for Hanukah Candle Lighting?
Hanukah – If One is Unsure Whether the Candles Will Burn for a Half-Hour
Hanukah – Candle Lighting When Staying in a Hotel
If One’s Hanukah Candles Were Extinguished Shortly After Lighting
Hanukah – Extinguishing or Using the Candles After a Half-Hour; Reusing the Previous Night’s Wicks; Lighting One Candle From Another
Chanukah- the Beracha Recited Before Hallel; Women's Recitation of Hallel
Al Ha’nisim – If One Forgot to Recite Al Ha’nisim or Recited it in the Wrong Place
Hanukah – Reciting a Beracha Over Hallel; the Times When Hallel May be Recited; Reciting "Mizmor Shir Hanukat Habayit"
Hanukah Candle Lighting on Ereb Shabbat and Mosa’eh Shabbat
The Hanukah Miracle; Customs Regarding Working and Festive Meals During Hanukah
Hanukah – Where Should a Guest Light if He Will be Returning Home That Night?
Hanukah – The Shamosh
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found