Jewish Law
When to Say a Blessing After Eating or Drinking: The Halachic Guide
Understanding measurements, time limits, and practical halacha for food, beverages, coffee, soup, and chewing gum
A person must recite a blessing before eating any food, even if he eats only a very small amount — as long as he eats it for the sake of eating. Therefore, one who chews flavored chewing gum, even though he swallows only a tiny amount, must recite a blessing beforehand because he benefits from its taste. Likewise, anyone who drinks anything must say a blessing — even if he drinks only a single drop.
However, this applies only to the first (before) blessing. The after-blessing is recited only if one consumed a significant amount:
For food: the minimum amount is a kezayit (about 27 grams).
For drinks: the minimum amount is a revi’it (about 81 grams).
In addition, the eating or drinking must take place within a halachically defined time frame, so that the amounts combine into a single act of eating. For example, if a person eats small crumbs of bread throughout an entire day, even if the total equals a kezayit, he cannot recite Birkat HaMazon. The kezayit must be eaten within the time of “achhilat pras”
The authorities disagree whether this time frame is:
5 minutes, or
about 7½ minutes,
(and some hold other opinions).
Therefore, it is best — especially at Shabbat meals, to be careful to eat a kezayit within 4½ minutes, in order to satisfy all opinions.
After-blessing for drinks
To recite an after-blessing on a drink, a person must drink a revi’it (81 grams) in one continuous act. If he pauses between sips, he may not recite an after-blessing.
Thus:
One who eats soup with a spoon does not recite an after-blessing, because he did not drink a revi’it at once.
One who drinks hot tea or coffee does not recite an after-blessing, since most people cannot drink a revi’it of a hot beverage in a single gulp.
Someone who drinks black coffee when it is lukewarm — even if he drinks a revi’it at once, still does not recite an after-blessing, because most people do not drink black coffee cold, and halacha follows common practice. Even if he personally always drinks it cold, his personal preference is disregarded when it differs from the majority.
In contrast, regarding coffee with milk, many people today do drink it cold (iced coffee, etc.). Therefore, if one drinks a revi’it of such coffee in one continuous drink, he should recite the appropriate after-blessing.
