What Is the Minimum Amount Required for a Concluding Blessing?

For heavy cream, the proper blessing before eating is Shehakol. After eating, the proper concluding blessing is Borei Nefashot.

The Obligation to Recite a First Blessing

Whenever a person eats any food, he must recite a “first blessing” before eating, such as Shehakol or Ha’etz. Even if he eats only a very small amount, he is still obligated to make the blessing, provided that he is eating for the purpose of eating.

However, if he is only tasting the food in order to adjust it — for example, to see whether it needs more seasoning, then no blessing is recited at all.

Therefore, someone chewing flavored gum must recite a blessing, even though he swallows only a tiny amount, since he benefits from the flavor of the gum.

Likewise, anyone drinking a beverage must recite a blessing beforehand, even if he intends to drink only a single drop.

When Is a Concluding Blessing Required?

All of the above applies only to the first blessing. A concluding blessing is recited only when one has eaten or drunk a halachically significant amount.

For food, the required amount is a kezayit — approximately 27 grams. For beverages, the required amount is a revi’it — approximately 81 grams (about 2.7 fluid ounces).

The Required Time Frame for Eating

The eating or drinking must also take place within a limited amount of time so that the amounts combine together.

For example, if someone eats a kezayit of bread crumb by crumb throughout an entire day, he clearly cannot afterward recite Birkat Hamazon. Therefore, the entire kezayit must be eaten within the halachic time known as “kedei achilat pras.”

The halachic authorities dispute the exact duration:

• Some say approximately 5 minutes.

• Others say approximately 7½ minutes.

• Additional opinions exist as well.

Because of this, it is best to be careful to eat a kezayit — especially during Shabbat meals — within about 4½ minutes in order to satisfy all opinions.

The Rules for Drinks

For a concluding blessing after drinking, one must drink a revi’it (81 grams) in one continuous act.

If a person pauses between sips, the drinks do not combine together, and no concluding blessing is recited.

For this reason:

• Someone eating soup with a spoon does not recite a concluding blessing on the soup, because he did not drink a revi’it at once.

• Likewise, someone drinking hot coffee or tea does not recite a concluding blessing afterward, since those beverages generally cannot be consumed in one uninterrupted drink.