Halacha: What Blessing Do You Say on a Banana?

For the banana, recite 'ha'adama' (first blessing)

After eating, recite 'borei nefashot' (concluding blessing)

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Quantity required to obligate a concluding blessing (from "Daily Halacha" based on rulings of Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef of blessed memory):

For any food one eats, one must recite a "first blessing," such as the blessing "shehakol" or "ha'etz." Even if one only eats a small portion of that food, one is required to bless it, as long as it is eaten with the intention of eating. (However, if one only tastes the food to add seasoning etc., one does not bless this eating at all). Therefore, one who chews flavored chewing gum, even if they swallow only a little of it, must bless for the pleasure from the gum's taste. Similarly, one who drinks something must bless even if they only drink a single drop of that beverage.

However, all this is specifically for the first blessing. A concluding blessing is only recited when one eats a "significant eating," and the measure of significant eating is a "kezayit," which is twenty-seven grams. For drinking, the measure is a "revi'it," which is eighty-one grams.

Additionally, the eating or drinking must occur within a timeframe that allows the eating or drinking to be considered continuous. If a person eats a 'kezayit' portion of bread over an entire day, piece by piece, they certainly cannot recite the grace after meals afterward. Instead, the eating of a 'kezayit' must occur all within the timeframe of "achilat pras," and the poskim differ on the duration of this period, with some saying it is five minutes and others saying it is about seven and a half minutes (with other views as well). Therefore, it is advisable to always eat a 'kezayit' (especially during Shabbat meals) within four and a half minutes to fulfill all opinions.

Regarding a concluding blessing for a beverage, one must drink a 'revi'it' (which is eighty-one grams) at once, for if one drinks and pauses between sips, they do not recite a concluding blessing at all. Therefore, one who drinks soup with a spoon does not recite a concluding blessing for drinking that soup, as they did not drink a 'revi'it' all at once. Similarly, one who drinks coffee or tea while hot does not recite a concluding blessing, as they cannot drink it all at once.​