Halacha: What Blessing Do You Say for Popcorn?

For popcorn, you say the blessing Ha'adamah (initial blessing)

And at the end of eating, you say Borei Nefashot (concluding blessing)

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Amount of eating required to say a concluding blessing (from "Halacha Yomit" by the rulings of Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, of blessed memory):

For everything a person eats, they must say an "initial blessing," such as the blessings "Shehakol" or "Ha'etz." Even if they eat only a little of that food, they must bless it, as long as they intend to eat it. (However, if one only tastes it to adjust seasoning or similar, no blessing is needed for that tasting.) Thus, someone who chews flavorful gum, even if they swallow very little, must bless for the enjoyment of the gum's taste. Similarly, anyone who intends to drink something must bless it, even if only drinking a single drop.

However, this applies only to the initial blessing, but a concluding blessing is only said when consuming a "significant amount" of food, which is a "k'zayit," i.e., twenty-seven grams, and in drinking, it is a "revi'it," which is eighty-one grams.

Moreover, the eating or drinking must be within a timeframe where all the consumption is considered as one. For example, if someone eats the amount of "k'zayit" bread throughout an entire day, piece after piece, they certainly cannot bless Birkat Hamazon afterwards. The eating of a "k'zayit" should be within the time span of "Achilat Pras," and opinions differ on this duration, with some saying five minutes and others about seven and a half minutes (there are other opinions as well). Therefore, it is advised to always eat a k'zayit amount (especially during Shabbat meals) within four and a half minutes to satisfy all opinions.

For drinks, to say a concluding blessing, one must drink a revi'it of the beverage (which is eighty-one grams) at once, as pausing between sips disqualifies the possibility of a concluding blessing. Therefore, someone sipping soup with a spoon does not say a concluding blessing for that soup, as they did not drink a revi'it at once. Similarly, someone drinking coffee or tea while it’s hot does not bless afterwards since they cannot drink it all at once.