Brachot On Foods That Start With The Letter H

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Food Bracha Rishona Bracha Achrona
Halvah Shehakol Boreh Nefashot[1]
Hamberger Shehakol Boreh Nefashot[2]
Hazelnut Haetz Boreh Nefashot[3]
Hearts of Palm Haadama Boreh Nefashot[4]
Herring Shehakol Boreh Nefashot[5]
Honey Shehakol [6]
Honey Cake Mezonot Al Hamichya[7]
Honey Wine (mead) Shehakol Boreh Nefashot[8]
Honeydew Haadama Boreh Nefashot[9]
Horseradish [10]
Hot Cocoa Shehakol none [11]
Hot Dog Shehakol Boreh Nefashot[12]
Hot pepper pickled or fried (Chili) HaAdama Boreh Nefashot[13]
Hot pepper raw if one enjoys it Shehakol Boreh Nefashot[14]
Humantashen Mezonot Al Hamichya[15]
Hydroponically Grown Vegetables Shehakol Boreh Nefashot[16]

Sources

  1. Halachos of Brachos Handbook p. 48 explains that halavah is made of crushed seasme seeds so that they’re unrecognizable.
  2. Gemara Brachot 40b, Shulchan Aruch 204:1. Halachos of Brachos Handbook p. 49 explains that flour or other ingredients added to meat in hambergers are secondary to the meat added as a binder or softening agent.
  3. Halachos of Brachos Handbook p. 49
  4. Gemara Brachot 36a cites a dispute between Rav Yehuda and Shmuel whether the bracha for hearts of palm are haadama or shehakol. The reason for the opinion that it is shehakol explains the Gemara is because the hearts of palm aren't the main fruit of the tree. The poskim and Shulchan Aruch 204 follows Shmuel that the bracha is shehakol. However, the bracha has changed since Shulchan Aruch since the palm trees planted for hearts of palm today are planted with the intention of using them for hearts of palm. Perhaps they should be haetz since they are the main product of these trees or perhaps they are haadama since it isn't a fruit. Vezot Habracha (Birur Halacha 36 pp. 308-9) concludes that it is haadama. Berachot.org and OU's Guide to Brachos agree. Rav Heinemann (Star K Kashrut Kurrents Fall 2011), however, holds that they are haaetz.
  5. Gemara Brachot 40b, Shulchan Aruch 204:1, Halachos of Brachos Handbook p. 49
  6. Halachos of Brachos Handbook p. 49 writes that usually no bracha achrona is recited since one doesn’t eat enough.
  7. Shulchan Aruch 168:7, Halachos of Brachos Handbook p. 49
  8. Shulchan Aruch 202:8, Halachos of Brachos Handbook p. 49 explains that mead is shehakol since it isn’t made from grapes.
  9. Shulchan Aruch 203:1, Halachos of Brachos Handbook p. 50
  10. Usually it is exempt with what one is eating. Halachos of Brachos Handbook p. 50 writes that one should avoid eating horseradish striaght since there’s a halachic uncertainity as to its bracha.
  11. Halachos of Brachos Handbook p. 50 explains that no bracha achrona is recited unless a reviyit is dranken without interruption.
  12. Gemara Brachot 40b, Shulchan Aruch 204:1, Halachos of Brachos Handbook p. 50
  13. Yalkut Yosef (Klalei Sefer Brachot pg 208-214)
  14. Yalkut Yosef (Klalei Sefer Brachot pg 208-214)
  15. Halachos of Brachos Handbook p. 48 writes that humantashen is a Pat Haba Bikisnin.
  16. Halachos of Brachos Handbook p. 50