Daily Halacha - Laws of Blessings, 25 Cheshvan 5778

What blessing is recited over palm hearts?

Palm hearts commonly found today in preserved cans imported from abroad were planted with the intention of harvesting the hearts, therefore their blessing is "Borei Pri Ha'adama" (Who creates the fruit of the ground). One should not recite the "Ha'etz" blessing over them since they are not fruit growing on a tree but rather food from the trunk itself.

What blessing is recited over an etrog?

For a ripe etrog that has been sweetened with sugar or honey and made into a sweet preserve, one recites the blessing "Borei Pri Ha'etz" (Who creates the fruit of the tree). When eating a fresh etrog, if its taste is pleasant, one recites "Ha'etz," but if its taste is sour or bitter and is only eaten with difficulty, its blessing is "Shehakol" [Chazon Ovadia p. 130].

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