What after blessing to say when in doubt:
A. In doubt if must say Al Hamichya or Borei Nefashos:[1]
Any food in which there is doubt as to whether its after blessing is Meiyn Gimel or Borei Nefashos Rabos, is to be eaten within a meal. If one does not want to eat it within a meal then he is to eat with it a food that is Borei Nefashos Rabos and a food that is Meiyn Gimel of that type of food that is being held in question. For example, if one is in doubt whether a certain dish that contains five grains receives an after blessing of Meiyn Gimel or Borei Nefashos Rabos, then he is to eat [a Kezayis within Peras] of a Mezonos and another food that is certainly Borei Nefashos Rabos, and is then to say Al Hamichyah and Borei Nefashos Rabos and exempt the questionable dish either way. [If one does not have both a Mezonos and Borei Nefashos food available, and does not want to eat it within a meal, then he is not to eat it at all.[2] If however he already ate it, then if he has one of the foods available, he is to eat one of those foods. Thus, if he has a Mezonos food available, he is to eat a Mezonos food and say only Al Hamichyeh and if he has a Borei Nefashos food available, he is to eat it and say only Borei Nefashos.[3] In addition, if he does not have a Mezonos food available, he is to drink wine and recite Al Hagafen or eat a 7 Minim fruit and recite Al Hapeiros, and then include the Al Hamichyeh in the blessing of Al Hagafen or Al Hapeiros due to the doubt.[4] This applies even if he has a Borei Nefashos food available. If no foods are available, he is not to say any after blessing, neither Al Hamichyeh nor Borei Nefashos.[5]]
B. In doubt on fruit if must say Al Hapeiros or Borei Nefashos:[6]
Any fruit in which there is doubt as to whether it is from the seven Minim and hence there is doubt as to whether it’s after blessing is Al Hapeiros or Borei Nefashos Rabos, is to be eaten within a meal. If one does not want to eat it within a meal then he is to eat with it a fruit that is for certain from the seven Minim and recite Al Hapeiros and exempt the questionable fruit either way. It is not necessary to eat another food to recite Borei Nefashos Rabos. If one does not have a 7 Minim fruit available it does not help to drink wine and recite Al Hagafen or eat a Mezonos food and recite Al Hamichyeh, and then include the Al Haperios in the blessing of Al Hagafen or Al Hamichyah due to the doubt. Rather one is to eat it within a meal. Nevertheless, after the fact, if one went ahead and ate it outside of a meal, then if he eats Al Hagafen or Al Hamichyah he should mention Al Hapeiros within the blessing due to doubt. [Thus in summary: If one does not have a seven Minim fruit available, and does not want to eat it within a meal, then he is not to eat it at all.[7] If however he already ate it, then if he has a Borei Nefashos food available, he is to eat it and say only Borei Nefashos.[8] In addition, if he does not have an Al Hapeiros fruit available, he is to drink wine and recite Al Hagafen or eat Mezonos and recite Al Hamichyeh, and then include the Al Hapeiros in the blessing of Al Hagafen or Al Hamichyeh due to the doubt.[9] This applies even if he has a Borei Nefashos food available. If no foods are available, some Poskim[10] rule he is to say an after blessing of Al Hapeiros although not the blessing of Borei Nefashos Rabos.[11] Other Poskim[12] however rule he is not to say Al Hapeiors, and is thus not to say any after blessing.[13] Practically, one is not to say any blessing.[14]]
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[1] Seder 1/19; Luach 1/18; Admur 202/12; Michaber 202/11Terumos Hadeshen 30
[2] Ketzos Hashulchan 60 footnote 12
[3] See Luach 1/20; Ketzos Hashulchan 60/6
[4] Seder 1/20 and Luach 1/19 regaridng case of Safek Al Hapeiros [brought next] and the same would apply to Safek Al Hamichyah, and so is implied from Luach 1/20 “If he does not have anything Meiyn Shalosh to include the Safek Al Hamichyeh in its blessing” and so rules Ketzos Hashulchan 60/6
[5] Luach 1/20; Ketzos Hashulchan 60/6
[6] Seder 1/20; Luach 1/19; M”A 208/26; Elya Raba 208/27; Terumos Hadeshen
[7] Ketzos Hashulchan 60 footnote 12
[8] See Luach 1/20; Ketzos Hashulchan 60/6
[9] Seder 1/20 and Luach 1/19 regaridng case of Safek Al Hapeiros [brought next] and the same would apply to Safek Al Hamichyah, and so is implied from Luach 1/20 “If he does not have anything Meiyn Shalosh to include the Safek Al Hamichyeh in its blessing” and so rules Ketzos Hashulchan 60/6
[10] Luach 1/20 “If he does not have anything else to enter the questionable fruit it in its blessing, then he is to say Al Haeitz, although not Borei Nefashos”; M”A 208/26; P”M 208 A”A 26; Shiyurei Bracha 207, brought in Shaareiy Teshuvah 207/1; M”B 207/1; Ketzos Hashulchan 60/3; Piskeiy Teshuvos 207/2
[11] The reason: As we rule that one who eats a fruit of 7 Minim and a fruit of non-7 Minim does not have to say an after blessing of Borei Nefashos as it is included in the Al Haeitz. [Admur Seder 1/14 and 20; Michaber 208/13] Thus we see that all fruits are included in Al Haeitz. [M”A ibid; P”M ibid]
[12] Elya Raba 208/27, brought in P”M ibid; Admur in Seder 1/20 omitted that which he wrote in Luach 1/20, thus implying that it never helps to say Al Haeitz on a fruit that is not of Zayin Minim, even in a case of doubt; Shulchan Hatahor 207/6, brought in Piskeiy Teshuvos 207/2 footnote 5
[13] As rules Admur Luach 1/20 regarding Safek Al Hamichyeh
[14] As Safek Brachos Lihakel, and perhaps Admur in Seder holds it may not be said and so is implied.
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