DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

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

      
(File size: 1.13 MB)
The Beracha When Eating Spices; The Beracha Over Chocolate

The Yalkut Yosef discusses the case of one who eats spices that are normally used only as condiments or for seasoning, such as mustard. If a person eats mustard on its own, he recites the Beracha of "She’hakol." Even though mustard is made from a seed that grows from the ground, and according to the Shulhan Aruch a food that is mashed retains its original Beracha, nevertheless, one does not recite "Ha’adama" over mustard. Since the food is normally used only for seasoning, its status vis-ŕ-vis Berchot is "downgraded" to a "She’hakol." This would also apply to someone who eats ground cinnamon; he recites "She’hakol" instead of "Ha’adama." Likewise, if one eats plain nutmeg, which comes from a tree, he recites "She’hakol" instead of "Ha’etz."

The Yalkut Yosef extends this rule to leaves that are used for seasoning, such as parsley leaves, cilantro leaves, and mint leaves. One who eats these leaves recites "She’hakol," even though they come from plants that grow from the ground. This applies even to celery leaves. Even though one recites "Ha’adama" over stalks of celery, one who eats the leaves – which are commonly used only for seasoning – recites "She’hakol."

Despite the fact that chocolate is produced from the cocoa bean, which grows on trees, it is customary to recite "She’hakol" over chocolate. Nevertheless, if one mistakenly recited "Ha’etz" over chocolate, he has fulfilled his obligation and does not have to recite another Beracha. For this reason, if one recites a Beracha over fruit before eating chocolate, he must have specific intention for the Beracha not to cover the chocolate. For example, if one is having fruit and chocolate for dessert, if he first recites "Ha’etz" on an apple, this Beracha will cover the chocolate unless he specifically has in mind for the Beracha not to cover the chocolate. Therefore, one must have intention when reciting the Beracha over the fruit that the Beracha does not cover the chocolate, so he may then recite "She’hakol" over the chocolate.

This applies also when one eats an apple and a banana. Although the accepted practice is to recite "Ha’adama" over bananas, some authorities maintained that it requires the Beracha of "Ha’etz," and therefore if one mistakenly recited "Ha’etz" over a banana, he has fulfilled his obligation and does not recite a new Beracha. Therefore, if one eats an apple (or other fruit) before a banana, he must have explicit intent for the Beracha not to cover the banana, as otherwise he will not be able to recite "Ha’adama" on the banana.

Summary: If one eats a food that is normally used only as seasoning, such as mustard, cinnamon, parsley leaves, mint leaves, cilantro leaves or celery leaves, he recites "She’hakol," even though the food comes from the ground or from a tree. The Beracha over chocolate is "She’hakol," though if one mistakenly recited "Ha’etz" he has fulfilled his obligation. If one eats a fruit before eating chocolate, he must have specific intention when reciting "Ha’etz" that the Beracha should not cover the chocolate, and then recite "She’hakol" over the chocolate.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Decorating Homes and Synagogues With Flowers on Shabuot
Shabuot – The Special Quality of the Month of Sivan; A Reason for Eating Dairy Products on Shabuot
Giving Charity on Erev Shavuot
Shabuot – Netilat Yadayim, Birkat Ha’Torah and the Bedtime Shema
Shabuot – Shaharit and Musaf on Shabuot Morning
Giving Charity Before Shabuot; Learning on Shabuot Night
Shabuot – Reasons for the Custom to Decorate the Synagogue with Flowers
Shabuot-Preparing When Shavuot Falls Out On Mosaeh Shabbat
Shabuot-Is it Permissible to Donate Blood or Have Elective Surgery on Ereb Shabuot?
Shavuot- Should One Repeat Beracha Rishona for Beverages Throughout The Night While Studying Shavuot Night
Shabuot – The Two Different Versions of the Te’amim for the Ten Commandments
Shabuot – The Halachot of Berachot Over Food and Drinks During Shabuot Night; Reciting Birkat Ha’Torah on Shabuot Morning
If an Israeli Resident is Spending Yom Tob in the Diaspora
Shabuot – The Custom to Remain Awake Throughout the Night
Pesah – How Soon After Pesah May One Eat the Hametz Which He Had Sold?
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found