Halacha: What Blessing Do You Say on a Tortilla?
Curious about the blessings for a tortilla, both before and after eating? Find all the information you need, along with details regarding quantity.
- הידברות
- פורסם ו' טבת התשע"ז

#VALUE!
In the country, most tortillas are made from regular wheat flour. Therefore, one must wash hands, recite hamotzi, and say Birkat Hamazon. Thus, whenever you buy a tortilla, it is essential to verify what it is actually made from.
Only if it is a tortilla made from corn flour, then the blessing is "shehakol" (the first blessing), and at the end of the meal, one says Borei Nefashot (the after blessing).
However, as mentioned, it is mandatory to check whether the tortilla is made from wheat flour or corn flour.
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A quantity for eating to be obligated in the after blessing (from "Halacha Yomit" of the rulings of Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef of blessed memory):
On everything a person eats, one must bless it with a "first blessing," such as the blessing "shehakol" or "ha'etz". Even if he only eats a little of that food, he must bless it, as long as he intends to eat it. (However, if he only intends to taste the food to adjust it with spices, he does not bless that consumption at all). Therefore, someone chewing gum with flavor, even if they swallow very little of it, nevertheless must bless it for the enjoyment of its flavor. Similarly, anyone drinking something needs to bless it, even if they only intend to drink a single drop of that beverage.
This applies only to the first blessing, but an after blessing is only recited when someone consumes a "significant eating" amount, which is a quantity of "kezayit," meaning twenty-seven grams, and for drinking, the amount is a "revi'it," which is eighty-one grams.
Additionally, both the eating or drinking must occur within a time frame allowing the consumption to be considered as one. For instance, if someone eats a "kezayit" wheat bread over an entire day, piece by piece, they certainly cannot say Birkat Hamazon afterward. Instead, the "kezayit" must be consumed within the time frame of "achilat pras". There is a disagreement among the scholars on this time, with some saying it is five minutes, while others suggest approximately seven and a half minutes (and there are other opinions). Therefore, it is recommended to always eat a kezayit (especially during Shabbat meals) within four and a half minutes to fulfill all opinions.
Regarding the after blessing on drinks, one must drink a revi'it of the beverage (which is eighty-one grams) at once, for if they drink and pause between sips, they do not bless the after blessing at all. Therefore, someone who drinks soup with a spoon does not bless the after blessing for that soup as they did not consume a revi'it at once. Similarly, one who drinks coffee or tea while hot does not bless the after blessing since they cannot drink it all at once.