Halacha: What Blessing Do You Make on Pumpkin?
Curious about the appropriate blessings for pumpkin? Discover the initial and the final blessings, plus details on the amount needed for consumption.
- הידברות
- פורסם א' חשון התשע"ז

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On the pumpkin, the blessing is "ha'adama" (the initial blessing).
At the end of the meal, the blessing is "boreh nefashot" (the final blessing).
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The required amount of consumption to be obligated for the final blessing (from "Halacha Yomit" by the rulings of Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef zt"l):
For any food a person eats, they must say an "initial blessing," like "shehakol" or "ha'etz." Even if they eat only a small amount of that food, they must bless it, as long as it is eaten with the intention of eating. (However, if they only intend to taste it to adjust seasoning or similar, no blessing is required at all.) Therefore, someone chewing flavored gum, even though they swallow very little of it, must bless it for the taste enjoyment. Similarly, someone drinking any beverage must bless it, even if they drink just a single drop.
However, all of this pertains to the initial blessing, but the final blessing is only recited when a "significant consumption" of the food occurs, which is an amount of "k'zayit," approximately twenty-seven grams, and for drinks, the amount is a "revi'it," which is eighty-one grams.
Additionally, the eating or drinking should occur within a time frame that connects the consumption. For example, if a person eats a "k'zayit" amount of bread over the entire day, piece by piece, they certainly cannot bless birkat hamazon afterward. Instead, the consumption of a "k'zayit" should occur within the time frame of "achilat pras," and there is a debate among the poskim regarding this duration, with some saying it is five minutes and others saying approximately seven and a half minutes (with other opinions as well). Therefore, it is advisable always to eat a "k'zayit" amount (especially during Shabbat meals) within four and a half minutes to fulfill all opinions.
For a final blessing on a drink, a full "revi'it" of the beverage (eighty-one grams) must be drunk at once. If there's a pause between sips, the final blessing is not made at all. Therefore, someone drinking soup with a spoon cannot make a final blessing on the soup since they did not drink a "revi'it" at once. Similarly, drinking hot coffee or tea does not require a final blessing because it cannot be drunk all at once.