6165 – A Bracha When Spitting?
Q. Dear Rov Shlit’a. Does one recite a bracha when just tasting food? If one decides to taste food and immediately spit it out, even if it is good, does he make a bracha? How about if one decides to eat it anyway, even if it is not good?
A. There is a dispute in the Rishonim about how to understand this Gemara. Rabbeinu Chananel (cited by Tosefos there) writes that it is only if one spits it out that he does not make a blessing.
The Rambam (hilchos berachos 1:2), as understood by the Beis Yosef, rules that one does not make a blessing upon tasting even when swallowing, up until the tasting is a revi'is.
The Shulchan Aruch, OH 210:2 cites both opinions, with the opinion of Rabbeinu Chananel as "there are some who say." The Rema applies the rule of Safek Brachot Lehakel, and therefore one does not make a blessing on tasting, even if one swallows.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by, Horav Shlomo Miller, Horav Yaakov Hirschman, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit’a, and Horav Dovid Bartfeld consulting, Horav Hagaon Rav Yitzchak Berkowitz Shlit’a
Reviewed by: Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
Published: November 6, 2026