The Bracha on blended, ground and disintegrated foods:[1]
One of the more complex areas in the laws of blessings is determining how processing a food affects its bracha. Many foods are no longer consumed in their original form, but rather are ground, blended, mashed, pureed, or turned into flour. Examples include applesauce, almond flour, tahini, chickpea flour, tomato sauce, protein shakes, and various grain products. The halachic question is whether a food retains its original identity, and hence its original blessing, or whether the processing transforms it into an entirely new food deserving of a different bracha.
The general principle is that when a food loses its original form through grinding or disintegration, it may lose its original blessing. However, this depends on the type of food involved, the degree of processing, and whether such processing is considered the normal manner of eating that food. The laws differ significantly between fruits and vegetables, legumes and seeds, and the five species of grain.
- Ground Fruits and Vegetables
The dispute: The Poskim debate whether fruits and vegetables that have been completely ground lose their original blessing. Some Poskim[2] rule that once the fruit or vegetable has been ground to the point that its original appearance is no longer recognizable, it loses its original blessing and receives a blessing of Shehakol, unless this is the normal way that the food is eaten.
Examples include:
- Applesauce
- Fruit puree
- Tomato sauce
- Almond flour
Other Poskim[3] maintain that fruits and vegetables retain their original blessing even when completely ground, as the laws of losing one’s identity through grinding primarily apply to grains and legumes.
Practical ruling:[4] Practically, one should recite Shehakol on completely ground fruits and vegetables when this is not their normal method of consumption. Nevertheless:
- If one recited Ha’eitz on ground fruits, he fulfills his obligation.
- If one recited Ha’adamah on ground vegetables, he fulfills his obligation.
Normal manner of eating:[5] If a fruit or vegetable is commonly consumed in ground or pureed form, then according to all it retains its original blessing. [This, however, only applies if it is common to eat the food plain, without other foods. If, however, one only eats it together with other foods then its blessing is Shehakol.[6]]
- Ground Fruits of the Seven Species
Special rules apply to the fruits of the Seven Species:
- Grapes
- Figs
- Pomegranates
- Olives
- Dates
If these fruits are completely ground, their blessing before eating is generally Shehakol, as stated above.
After-blessing dilemma:[7] A doubt exists regarding the after-blessing: Should one recite Al Ha’eitz/Al Hapeiros? Or should one recite Borei Nefashos? Therefore, one should ideally:
- Eat them during a meal, or
- Avoid eating a shiur that would obligate an after-blessing.
Some Poskim[8] however rule that if one ate a sufficient quantity, he should recite Al Hapeiros.
- Ground Legumes and Seeds[9]
Examples include:
- Chickpeas
- Sesame seeds
- Flax seeds
- Chia seeds
Raw ground flour: If ground into flour, then when not edible in its raw state, no blessing is recited before tasting it. [10] When edible, its blessing becomes Shehakol and its after-blessing is Borei Nefashos.[11]
Cooked ground legumes:[12] When ground legumes or seeds are cooked into:
- Porridge
- Bread
- Crackers
- Cooked dishes
their blessing is generally: Shehakol and afterward: Borei Nefashos
Coarsely ground legumes:[13] If the legumes are not fully ground and noticeable pieces remain:
- One should initially recite Shehakol.
- If one recited Ha’adamah, he fulfills his obligation after the fact.
- Ground Five Grains[14]
The five grains are:
- Wheat
- Barley
- Spelt
- Rye
- Oats
Plain flour:[15] Plain flour made from the five grains receives: Shehakol. This applies even when the flour is coarse and the grain flavor remains evident. The reason is that grain’s primary purpose is to be transformed into bread or other prepared grain products. Therefore, as plain flour it no longer receives a grain blessing.
Flour made into food: If flour is mixed with liquid and processed into a dish, its blessing depends on how it is prepared. It may become Mezonos or Hamotzi depending on the circumstances discussed in the laws of grain products.
Flour in beverages: If wheat flour is mixed into a very liquid drink, such as a protein shake, its blessing remains: Shehakol.
Summary Table
| Food Type | Examples | Blessing After Grinding |
| Fruits | Applesauce, fruit puree | Shehakol (unless commonly eaten this way) |
| Vegetables | Tomato sauce, vegetable puree | Shehakol (unless commonly eaten this way) |
| Seven Species Fruits | Dates, figs, olives | Shehakol |
| Legumes | Chickpeas, lentils | Shehakol |
| Seeds | Sesame, flax, chia | Shehakol |
| Legume breads/crackers | Chickpea bread, legume crackers | Shehakol |
| Plain wheat flour | Flour | Shehakol |
| Wheat flour cooked or baked into grain foods | Cakes, cereal, bread | Mezonos or Hamotzi depending on preparation |
| Protein shake with wheat flour | Liquid drink | Shehakol |
Two-Sentence Summary
Foods that have been ground, mashed, blended, or otherwise disintegrated often lose their original blessing when they are no longer recognizable in their natural form. Practically, ground fruits, vegetables, legumes, seeds, and plain grain flour are generally recited upon with Shehakol, unless the processed form is considered the normal way of consuming that food or special grain-product rules apply.
Practical Examples
Example 1
A person eats homemade applesauce in which the apples are completely pureed. Some say the blessing is Shehakol while others say its Haeitz, as today this is the normal method of eating.
Example 2
Someone eats tomato sauce by itself. The blessing is Shehakol.
Example 3
A person eats tahini made from ground sesame seeds. The blessing is Shehakol and the after-blessing is Borei Nefashos.
Example 4
A person eats hummus made from ground chickpeas. The blessing is Shehakol.
Example 5
A person tastes plain wheat flour. The blessing is Shehakol.
Example 6
A person drinks a protein shake containing wheat flour. The blessing is Shehakol.
Example 7
A person eats ground dates. Due to the uncertainty regarding the after-blessing, he should preferably eat them within a meal or avoid consuming a quantity requiring an after-blessing.
[1] Seder 7:22-24; Luach 10:23; Admur 202:17; Michaber 202:7; Brachos 36a; Ketzos Hashulchan 52:1; Piskeiy Teshuvos 202:15
[2] 1st opinion in Seder 7:23; 202:17; M”A 208:13; Maharik 43; Terumas Hadeshen 23
[3] 2nd opinion in Seder 7:24; 202:17; Luach 10:24; Rama 202:7; Taz 208:4; Beis Ysoef 202 in opinion of Rambam Brachos 8:4
[4] Seder 7:23; 202:17; Luach 10:24; Rama 202:7; Terumas Hadeshen 129
Admur brings a dispute and concludes that all crushed fruits are Lechatchila Shehakol since its not Derech Achilasam. However, certain ground foods may be defined as Derech Achilasam and its therefore Haeitz. Veztaruch Iyun as to what defines something as Derech Achilasam.
[5] See Seder 7:22; 7:10; Luach 10:24; Admur 202:17; M”A 202:18; Terumas Hadeshen 29; Maharik 43
[6] Piskeiy Teshuvos 202:22
[7] Ketzos Hashulchan 51 footnote 3
[8] See M”B; Igros Moshe Y.D. 2:25; Piskeiy Teshuvos 202 footnote 84
[9] Luach 10:24; Admur 202:17; M”A 202:13; M”B 208:38
[10] Michaber and Rama 208:4 regarding roasted wheat and barley; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 205:5
[11] Seder 7:24
[12] Seder 1:10; 7:22 and 24; Luach 1:8-9; 10:24; Admur 202:17; 24; Michaber 208:8; Taz 208:11; Rif Brachos 26a; Rambam Brachos 3:10; Rabbeinu Yona Brachos 26a; Ketzos Hashulchan 51:4; Piskeiy Teshuvos 202:21
[13] The law by coarsely ground, versus finely ground into flour: If the kernels have been ground to the point that they turned into flour [i.e. legume crackers or bread], then their blessing is Shehakol according to all opinions. If however, they have been coarsely ground and hence pieces of the kernels still remain, then it is disputed amongst the Poskim as to whether the blessing on the cooked dish is Shehakol [1st opinion in Seder 7:24; Luach 10:24; Admur 202:24] or Ha’adama [2nd opinion in parentheses in Seder 7:24 based on opinion in Seder 7:22; Luach 10:24; Admur 202:24]. Practically, Safek Brachos Lihakel, and hence its blessing is Shehakol, although if he recited Ha’adama he fulfills his obligation Bedieved. [Seder 7:24; Luach 10:24; Admur 202:24; Rama 202:7; Teurmas Hadeshen 129]
[14] Seder 7:22-23; Admur 202:17; Michaber 208:5; Mamar Mordechai 208:6; Kaf Hachaim 208:21; Ketzos Hashulchan 52:3
Other opinions: Some Poskim rule that crushed grains or course flour is Ha’adama. [Olas Tamid 208:3]
[15] Seder 7:23