Q) I was looking on the site to find out the bracha for Grits. Grits are made from corn; I was checking to see if they are HaAdama or SheHakol and was very surprised to see Mezonot/Al HaMichya listed as the proper brachot. Can you please tell me the source for this?

A) The grits I am referring to are barley grits, however, you’re right, corn grits (also known as Corn Fritters) would be Shehokol and Borei Nefashot. The reason Corn Fritters are Shehokol as opposed to Ha’adoma is because it is made from milled and grounded corn. (see the Read more from the question on Kamut below.)

 

Q) What is your source for Pringles being"Haadama"? All sources that I've checked, including "Zot Habracha", say that Pringles are "Shehakol", because they are processed. I've asked many rabbis in the past, they all said the same.

A) You're right! I never saw this before, footnote 79 in the way back discusses pringles and say they are shehakol. My source for saying they are ha'adoma is Rav Bodner who writes:

"According to some Poskim, the brocha for “Pringles” ( potato chips made from dehydrated potato granules) is borei pri hoadoma, since the end product is recognizably a potato chip." 

 

Q) According to your site, lemons are shehakol and borei nefashos. May I ask you why?

A) On the one hand, lemons come from trees, and thus deserve the bracha of Ha'etz. Yet, on the other hand, since lemons are bitter and not normally eaten directly, perhaps one wouldn't make any brocha. As for the final halacha, we differentiate between different types of lemons. Lemons that are really bitter and can only be eaten if forced down - wouldn't receive any bracha, since it is considered harmful. Lemons that are mildly bitter and are eaten with some difficulty receive a shehokol. Finally, lemons that are naturally sweet - would receive the bracha of Ha'etz. According to V'Zot Haberacha, almost all the lemons around nowadays fall into the second category. (As a side note, if one put sugar or something similar on the lemon, it would then qualify for Ha'etz.)

 

Q) Does the product "Lactagen," designed to cure lactose intolerance, need a hechsher? If yes, can u tell me based on the ingredients if it is kosher? (see website www.lactagen .com)

A) Sorry, but this question is way beyond me. However, i did find that the Star K Kashrut organization provides a useful approved medicine list and you can check it out at http://www.star-k.org/cons-appr-medecine.htm

 

Q) Does one make a brocha on Listerine Pocketpaks Strips?

A) No, it is not considered food.

 

Q) Honey bunches of oats (all) is listed as mezonos, I was looking at the ingredient panel and the 1st ingredient is corn, can you please tell me why it is still mezonos (I would like to try and know how to figure out berachot when I don't have internet access to check the site!)

A) True, but the second ingredient is whole grain wheat (and the fourth is whole grain rolled oats). These are from the 5 special grains and since they are processed and turned into Pas Haba Bisinin - they get a mezonot. Even though, corn is the majority ingredient, the Ikar mezonot is covering the tofel corn. (I discuss this in Ikar and Tofel, under the third category of, “Tofel by Form,” and in this category even a minority amount of mezonot can be the Ikar [as long as its not “serving.” An example of “serving” would be to thicken the batter or if used as a binding agent in a recipe, but here the mezonot adds its own flavor.] and would be considered the Ikar despite not be the majority ingredient.)

 

Q) What is the bracha for quinoa?

A) Quinoa is not one of the five special grains, and therefore could only recieve either an Ha'adoma or Shehokol depending on how it's used. If you grind it up and make it into a cake then it's shehokol, if kept whole - then Ha'adoma (see the Read more from the question on Kamut).

 

Q) Can you tell me the proper beracha for Fortune Cookies?

A) They are made with flour, but since they are hard (and thus, qualify as Pas Haba Bikisnin) they are Mezonot.

 

Q) Which Beracha comes first, Mezonot or Ha' gafen?

A) Mezonot then Ha'gafen (see more on Order of Brochos)

 

Q) What's the Beracha for Kamut?

A) It seems to me that kamut is a type of wheat, and therefore would follow all the same rules of wheat. If you just cooked the grains whole- then adoma, if made into cake - then mezonot, and if made into bread - then hamotzei. (Read more)

 

 

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