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DonateChapter 11: Blessing on Legumes, Crop Seeds, and grains – Mezonos, Ha’adama, Shehakol
1. The general rule – Grains versus legumes versus seeds:Grains, legumes, and seeds receive different blessings—Mezonos, Ha’adama, or Shehakol—depending on the species and preparation. Foods made from the five grains may be Mezonos or Hamotzi, while non-five grain species are usually Shehakol or Ha’adama. Rice is an exception, with some debate. The exact blessing for non-five grain kernels depends on their preparation as will be explained in this chapter.
2. Five grains – Wheat, spelt, barley, oats, rye:A food that is made of the five grains can potentially become Mezonos or Hamotzi depending on how it is made [i.e. boiled versus baked kernels, and cooked or baked goods of dough] as we learned in length in chapters 8 through 10. Its blessing can likewise be Ha’adama, as we ruled regarding puffed wheat in Chapter 10. Its blessing can even be Shehakol, such as wheat flour that is added to a very liquidy protein shake as we ruled in Chapter 10.
Raw wheat:
Raw wheat that is ground is considered Shehakol, while whole wheat kernels retain the blessing of Ha’adama, as the main purpose of grains is for bread and bread requires grinding.
3. Legumes, pulses, cereal grains, & crop seeds, [i.e. lentils, beans, chickpeas, buckwheat, corn, sunflower seeds, quinoa:
All species that are not of the five grains, whether they are defined as cereal grains [i.e. corn], or as legumes [i.e. Beans, Lentils, Peas, Chickpeas, Soybeans, peanuts], or as crop seeds [Sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, sesame seeds, and chia seeds], is either Shehakol or Ha’adama depending on how it is made as will now be explained, with the exception to rice and millet which will be explained in Halacha 4.
Cooked whole or cracked legumes/seeds: Ha’adama.
Cooked ground legumes/seeds (like flour): Shehakol.
Mashed cooked legumes: Ha’adama if simply mashed; Shehakol if finely processed.
Puffed or roasted whole kernels: Ha’adama if commonly eaten this way, otherwise Shehakol.
Raw kernels/seeds: Only recite a blessing if edible in which case Ha’adama applies.
Seeds from fruits/vegetables: Shehakol unless naturally sweet and fit for eating.
| Type | Preparation | Blessing |
| Legumes, pulses, cereal grains, crop seeds | Cooked, whole or cracked | Ha’adama, Borei Nefashos |
| Legumes, pulses, cereal grains, crop seeds | Cooked, ground (course or fine flour) | Shehakol, Borei Nefashos |
| Mashed cooked legumes | Mashed with spoon | Ha’adama |
| Mashed cooked legumes | Mashed with spoon masher (perforations) | Shehakol |
| Legumes, pulses, cereal grains, crop seeds | Roasted or puffed | Ha’adama, Borei Nefashos |
| Legumes, pulses, cereal grains, crop seeds | Raw, not edible | No blessing |
| Legumes, pulses, cereal grains, crop seeds | Raw, edible (e.g. flax, chia) | Ha’adama, Borei Nefashos |
| Seeds of fruits and vegetables | Raw, inedible | No blessing |
| Seeds of fruits and vegetables | Roasted, edible | Shehakol |
| Seeds of fruits and vegetables | Raw, naturally sweet and fit for eating | Shehakol |
Blessing chart for legume and seed-based products
| Food | Bracha |
| Bamba [ground corn] | Shehakol |
| Beans [cooked whole] | Ha’adama |
| Buckwheat [cooked whole – Kasha] | Ha’adama |
| Corn – Whole in can, cooked, or on Cob | Ha’adama |
Cornflakes [ground corn] | Shehakol |
| Corn syrup [candies] | Shehakol |
| Chalva [ground sesame] | Shehakol |
| Chia | Ha’adama |
| Chickpeas [cooked whole] | Ha’adama |
| Chulent without five grains | Ha’adama on whole beans if is majority |
| Flax seeds | Ha’adama |
| Humus Dip [cooked and ground chickpeas] | Shehakol |
| Kasha [cooked whole buckwheat] | Ha’adama |
| Kusemet = Buckwheat | Ha’adama |
| Kusmin = Wheat | Mezonos/Hamozi |
| Lentils [cooked] | Ha’adama |
| Millet [cooked ground and whole] | Shehakol, although a G-d fearing Jews eats within a meal |
| Peanuts | Ha’adama |
| Popcorn | Ha’adama |
| Porridge from legumes or crop seeds | Shehakol |
| Pumpkin seeds | Shehakol; Bedieved if said Ha’adama is Yotzei |
| Quinoa | Ha’adama |
| Sesame seeds | Ha’adama |
| Soybean – Cooked whole | Ha’adama |
| Soybean products [ground soybean] | Shehakol |
| Sunflower seeds | Ha’adama |
| Tahini | Shehakol |
| Watermelon seeds | Shehakol |
It is recommended to eat rice and millet within a meal that includes bread due to the doubts regarding their blessings. If one cannot do so, the following rules apply:
- For whole rice or millet, if other foods are available to recite blessings over, one is to say Mezonos, Hadama, and Shehakol on other foods first. If not available, then one is to recite Shehakol directly on the rice.
- For mashed or flour forms made into crackers or bread, recite Mezonos and Shehakol on other foods. If not available, then one is to recite Shehakol directly on the rice.
- For roasted or puffed rice: One recites Ha’adama on rice cakes. Likewise, the same applies to rice cereal that the blessing of Ha’adama is said.
| Type | Recommended Practice | If Other Foods Available | If Other Foods Not Available |
| Whole rice or millet | Eat within a meal that includes bread | Say Mezonos, Hadama, Shehakol on other foods first | Recite Shehakol directly on the rice |
| Mashed/flour forms (crackers or bread) | Eat within a meal that includes bread | Recite Mezonos and Shehakol on other foods | Recite Shehakol directly on the rice |
| Roasted or puffed rice | Eat within a meal that includes bread | — | Recite Ha’adama |
