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DonateThis law will deal with the blessing that is to be said over the broth of soup that was cooked with a Mezonos product whether that product is pasta, Matzah balls, or one of the five grains of wheat, barley, spell, rye, or oats, that have begun to stick to each other as a result of the cooking, or that are broken into two or three pieces, in which case the blessing of the grain is Mezonos as explained in length in chapter 10 Halacha 9! The next Halacha will deal with whole grain soup which is not Mezonos!
Intent of cooking to consume only the broth:[2] One who cooked a Mezonos product [i.e. a Tavshil of the five grains] with a liquid for the purpose of only drinking the liquid [and to either discard or eat the Mezonos as a secondary product to the soup], then the blessing on the liquid is Shehakol. This applies even if the person ends up eating some of the actual Mezonos solid and recites a blessing of Mezonos over it, nevertheless, he must still recite a separate blessing of Shehakol over the liquid if a lot of liquid was place in ratio to the solid.[3] Nevertheless, it is best in such a case for one to first say a blessing of Shehakol over a little bit of the soup on its own, and only afterwards to say a blessing of Mezonos on the solid.[4]
- Example – Barley soup for the ill: Barley which is cooked in water only for the sake of feeding the liquid to a sick person, the liquid receives the blessing of Shehakol.
- Example – Beer: Accordingly, the blessing over beer is Shehakol and not Mezonos even though it is made from barley.
Intent of cooking to consume the Mezonos with the broth:[5] One who cooked a Mezonos product with a liquid for the purpose of consuming the Mezonos together with the liquid, such as alphabet soup, then even if one eats the broth alone without the Mezonos, the blessing of Mezonos [and Al Hamichyah[6]] is to be recited over the liquid. This applies even if one also cooked meat or chicken in the soup.[7]
- Example – Broth of noodle instant soups: One recites a Mezonos on the broth when eating it alone without the noodles.
Intent of cooking to consume soup but will also consume Mezonos:[8] One who cooked a Mezonos product with a liquid for the purpose of consuming the liquid but also plans to eat the Mezonos product, then he is to first say a Shehakol on the soup which is the primary food, and recite Mezonos on the solid food.
Main intent is only for the solid:[9] If the intent of the cooking is mainly for the sake of the solid, such as one who cooks Pasta for the sake of eating it, then it is disputed as to what blessing should be recited over the liquid, the blessing of the solid[10] [i.e. Mezonos], or the blessing of Shehakol.[11] [Accordingly, one is to initially recite over the liquid the blessing of Shehakol, although Bedived if he recited over it the blessing of the solid, then he fulfills his obligation.[12]]
Law of Ikar and Tafel if desires to eat both together – Mezonos and its liquid:[13] The above cases in which a separate blessing would be recited over the broth of the soup, only applies in the event that one desires to now eat only the broth and not the food. However, if one desires to eat them together, as commonly done when eating barley soup made from chopped barley [which is Mezonos], then only one blessing of Mezonos is to be recited as it includes both the food and the soup which is secondary to it.
Chicken or meat soup with Mezonos product:[14] If one cooked chicken soup or meat stew with a Mezonos product, such as noodles, then when eating the broth alone, the blessing over the broth is Mezonos being that a Mezonos product is considered the primary ingredient over the meat.[15] [When eating also vegetables and meat, then one is to say an additional blessing of Shehakol on the meat, and a Ha’adama on the vegetables if they are large recognizable pieces.[16] These blessings should be recited prior to Mezonos.] See Halacha 7!
| Summary: The blessing over the broth of Mezonos soup depends on the intent of cooking: if the Mezonos product was added and cooked together with the liquid for the purpose of eating both, one recites Mezonos and Al Hamichyah over the broth. However, if the intent was mainly for the liquid or a different solid, a Shehakol is recited over the liquid, and Mezonos only on the solid.
What after blessing is recited after drinking the Mezonos soup?[17] Al Hamichyah. Thus, if one consumed 30 grams of Mezonos soup Al Hamichyah is to be recited. If the Mezonos product was added only after the cooking:[18] The above law that the broth of the soup receives the blessing of Mezonos only applies if the Mezonos product was added to the liquid by the initial cooking. If it was only added after the cook, as is commonly done by matzoh ball soup and by soup that has noodles added to it later, then the blessing of the broth of the soup does not become Mezonos. Soup with croutons:[19] When eating soup with soup croutons, then one is to first recite a blessing of Mezonos on the croutons and then a blessing on the soup [either Shehakol or Ha’adama, depending on the type of soup as explained above[20]]. If the soup also contains vegetables, then one recites a Ha’adama on the vegetables and does not recite any blessing on the broth as it is secondary to the vegetables. |
| Scenario | Intent of Cooking | Blessing on Broth | Blessing on Solid | After Blessing | Notes/Examples |
| Mezonos soup (pasta, matzah ball, five grain) | General | Mezonos (if grains stick or broken) | Mezonos | Al Hamichyah | See chapter 10 Halacha 9 |
| Broth cooked for drinking only | Consume only liquid | Shehakol | Mezonos (if eaten) | – | Best to say Shehakol first, then Mezonos |
| Barley soup for the ill | Feeding liquid to sick person | Shehakol | – | – | Barley cooked in water |
| Beer | – | Shehakol | – | – | Made from barley |
| Soup intended to eat Mezonos with broth | Consume Mezonos with liquid | Mezonos (even broth alone) | Mezonos | Al Hamichyah | Alphabet soup, meat/chicken cooked with Mezonos |
| Broth of noodle instant soups | – | Mezonos (when eating broth alone) | – | – | – |
| Soup intended to consume liquid, also Mezonos | Consume liquid, also Mezonos | Shehakol (primary food) | Mezonos | – | – |
| Main intent for solid | Mainly for solid (e.g. pasta) | Disputed: Mezonos or Shehakol | Mezonos | – | Initially recite Shehakol; Bedieved Mezonos suffices |
| Eat both Mezonos and liquid together | Eat together | Mezonos | Mezonos | – | Broth is secondary; barley soup from chopped barley |
| Chicken/meat soup with Mezonos product | – | Mezonos (broth alone) | Mezonos | – | Say Shehakol on meat, Ha’adama on vegetables (if large pieces) |
| After blessing after drinking Mezonos soup | – | – | – | Al Hamichyah | 30 grams consumed |
| Mezonos added after cooking | Added after cook | Not Mezonos | – | – | Matzoh ball soup, noodles added later |
| Soup with croutons | – | Shehakol or Ha’adama (depending on soup) | Mezonos (croutons) | – | Ha’adama on vegetables if present; broth secondary to vegetables |
[1] Seder 7:15; Luach 10:15; Admur 202:12 and 14; Michaber 204:1; M”A 205:6; Shut Rosh Kelal 4:15; Bava Basra 96b; Piskeiy Teshuvos 205:9
[2] Seder 7:15 and 17 that this applies according to all; Luach 10:15; Admur 202:12
[3] The reason: As the liquid is not secondary at all to the solid, as its main purpose of being cooked was for the sake of the liquid. [Admur Seder ibid]
[4] Seder 7:15 [and 16]; Admur 202:12; M”A 205:6 [according to one Girsa]; Tzemach Tzedek O.C. 115
The reason a blessing of Mezonos is recited: The reason a blessing is recited over the solid, is because also the solid is not secondary to the liquid even though the liquid was the main purpose of the cooking. The reason for this is because grain is considered significant and does not become secondary to another product to lose its blessing in a case that it gives taste to the product. [Seder ibid]
The reason a blessing of Shehakol is recited first: Although in general one always precedes the blessing of Mezonos to that of Shehakol, nevertheless, in this case it is better to precede the blessing of Shehakol since there is room to argue that the blessing of Mezonos can also exempt the liquid. [Tzemach Tzedek O.C. 115; Machatzis Hashekel on M”A ibid] Alternatively, the reason is because the purpose of the cooking was for the soup which is hence considered the more beloved product, and hence receives precedence over the solid. [Hagahos Maharil on Admur ibid]
[5] Seder 7:15; Luach 10:15; Admur 202:12 and 14; Michaber 204:1; M”A 205:6; Shut Rosh Kelal 4:15; Bava Basra 96b
Other opinions: See Kaf Hachaim 205:11 90 soup can only receive the blessing of its food in the event that its food content has disintegrated into it and never receives the blessing of the food when simply eating the liquid, and so is the custom of the Sephardim.
[6] Implication of Admur 7:13 and 14 that both the before and after blessing follow that of the solid food
[7] Seder 7:20; Luach 10:20; Admur in 202:14; M”A 205:7; M”B 205:7; See Halacha 7 for the full details of this matter!
[8] Seder 7:15; Admur 202:12; M”A 205:6 [according to one Girsa]; Tzemach Tzedek O.C. 115; ; Piskeiy Teshuvos 205:9 footnote 32
[9] Seder 7:18; Luach 10:18, Admur 202:12
[10] 2nd opinion in Seder 7:18, Luach 10:18, Admur 202:12; Based on 2nd opinion in Seder 7:12; Luach 10:12; Admur 202:11; Michaber 202:10; Rosh Brachos 4:15;
The reason: The reason is because the liquid was cooked with the fruits for the purpose of the fruits [Admur Seder 7:18] and contains a taste of the fruits. [Seder 7:12]
[11] 1st opinion in Seder 7:18, Luach 10:18, Admur 202:12; Taz 202:10; Based on 1st opinion in Seder 7:12, Luach 10:12, Admur 202:11, Michaber 202:10; Rashba Brachos 38a
The reason: The reason is because the water was not cooked for this purpose of receiving the taste of the fruit and to become enhanced as a result of it. In this regard is not similar to the cooking of vegetable soup in which case the intent is also on the soup that receive the taste of the vegetable and be considered significant like it. [Admur Seder 7:18]
[12] As rules Admur in Seder 7:12; Rav Avraham Alyashvili footnote 135
[13] Seder 7:19 “and if he comes to eat them together there is no need to say any blessing over the liquid being that it is secondary to the food and exempt with its blessing”; Implication of Seder 7:12 “if one comes to drink it on its own,” [hence implying that when consumed together with the fruit than its blessing is always secondary to that of the fruit, and so explains Rav Elyashvili in footnote 87 and 92]; M”B 202:54; 205:9; Piskeiy Teshuvos 202:25 footnote 149
[14] Seder 7:20; Luach 10:20; Admur 202:14 in parentheses; Ashel Avraham Butchach 202; Piskeiy Teshuvos 202:25 footnote 156; Piskeiy Teshuvos 205:9
[15] The reason: As Mezonos products are always considered the main food and of greater significance than all of the foods. [Seder ibid; See Seder 3:2]
[16] See Ketzos Hashulchan 58 footnote 2 that if there are legumes in the soup, they are exempt with the Mezonos and do not receive a separate blessing
[17] Implication of Admur 7:13 and 14 that both the before and after blessing follow that of the solid food
[18] Piskeiy Teshuvos 205:10
[19] Piskeiy Teshuvos 205:10
[20] For example, if it is vegetable soup and one does not have any vegetables in his bowl then he is to say a Ha’adama on the broth.
