The Mishna, Berachot 35a, states that one recites the beracha of "Borei P'ri Ha'Eitz" on "fruits of a tree" and "Borei P'ri Ha'Adamah" on "fruits of the ground." This article will discuss the criteria for determining which beracha to recite over different fruits and vegetables. Additionally, we will discuss the status of processed fruits and vegetables.

The Criteria for P'ri Eitz and P'ri Adamah
There are two notable differences between trees and other plants. Trees generally live for many years and are surrounded by a woody tissue. Other plants generally last only one year and are surrounded by herbaceous tissue. The Gemara, Berachot 40a-40b, provides the criteria for when one recites Borei P'ri Ha'Eitz and when one recites Borei P'ri Ha'Adamah as follows: if after the fruit is picked from the plant, the stem continues to produce more fruit, one recites Borei P'ri Ha'Eitz on the fruit. If the stem does not continue to produce fruit, one recites Borei P'ri Ha'Adamah. Rabbeinu Asher, Berachot 6:23, explains the Gemara to mean that if a plant produces fruit from year to year without requiring replanting (perennial), the beracha on its fruit is Borei P'ri Ha'Eitz. If the plant does not last from year to year (annual), the beracha on its fruits is Borei P'ri Ha'Adamah. Rabbeinu Asher notes that the Tosefta, K'laim 3:13, provides different criteria for determining what is a p'ri eitz and what it is a p'ri adamah. The Tosefta states that if the plant produces leaves from its roots, the fruit is considered a p'ri adamah. If it does not produce leaves from its roots the fruit is considered a p'ri eitz.

Rabbeinu Asher doesn't provide any practical difference between the criteria of the Gemara and the criteria of the Tosefta. However, Ra'aviah, no. 113, cites a responsum of the Geonim that distinguishes between the two criteria. The Geonim state that if the entire stem (or trunk) dies at the end of the season and grows a new stem from its roots, it is considered p'ri adamah and one recites Borei P'ri Ha'Adamah on its fruits. This is what the Tosefta refers to when it states that the plant produces leaves from its roots- that if a new stem grows out of the roots every season, the plant is considered a p'ri adamah. The Geonim state that a banana tree (musa) is an example of such a plant and one would recite a Borei P'ri Ha'Adamah on its fruits.

The Geonim also discuss the status of berries that grow in bushes whose stems do not last from year to year. Here too, they rule that one should recite a Borei P'ri Ha'Adamah on these berries. Additionally, Tosafot, Berachot 40a, cite the opinion of Rabbeinu Menachem that the beracha on berries is Borei P'ri Ha'Adamah even if the stems last from year to year. Rabbeinu Menachem notes that the Talmud Yerushalmi K'laim 5:7, states that the criteria presented by the Tosefta only apply to the laws of K'laim (the prohibition against growing fruits together). With regards to berachot, the beracha on fruits of species such as the "atad" is Borei P'ri Ha'Adamah even though it meets the Tosefta's criteria of a p'ri eitz. Rabbeinu Menachem understands "atad" as a bush. Nevertheless, Mordechai, Berachot no. 131, notes that Maharam of Rutenberg and Rabbeinu Tam both recited Borei P'ri Ha'Eitz on these berries.

Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 203:2-3, rules that one recites Borei P'ri Ha'Adamah on berries and bananas. Rama ad loc., explains that Shulchan Aruch's ruling regarding berries only applies to those berries that grow on bushes whose stems do not survive from year to year. He does not seem to be concerned for the opinion of Rabbeinu Menachem that all bushes produce fruit whose beracha is Borei P'ri Ha'Adamah. Strawberries are a good example of berries that grow on bushes whose stem does not last from year to year (see Igrot Moshe, Orach Chaim 1:86).

Magen Avraham 203:1, discusses a certain type of berry called yagidas. He rules that the beracha on the black variety is Borei P'ri Ha'Eitz. R. Avraham Danzig, Chayei Adam 51:9, notes that Magen Avraham's ruling applies even though these berries grow within three tefachim (approximately 9.5-11 inches) of the ground. Nevertheless, Chayei Adam notes that common practice is to recite Borei P'ri Ha'Adamah on these fruit because they don't resemble a fruit. Mishna Berurah 203:3, cites this "common practice" and states that it applies to all fruit that grow within three tefachim of the ground. R. Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe, Orach Chaim 1:85, notes that not everyone accepts the practice to recite Borei P'ri Ha'Adamah on anything that grows within three tefachim of the ground. He further notes that berries grow at different heights in different locations. Therefore, one should not apply the "three tefachim rule" unless one has a specific tradition to follow that rule. Furthermore, even if one has such a tradition, if there is a doubt as to whether the fruit grew within three tefachim, one should recite Borei P'ri Ha'Eitz (assuming it meets the other criteria).

Papaya
Papaya trees do not have the classic properties of trees. Their bark is not woody but hollow. Additionally, every season, the fruit grow from new branches. Although it is arguable that the papaya tree is similar to the banana tree in that the branches don't produce fruit from year to year, R. Yosef Chaim Ben Eliyahu, Rav Pe'alim 2:30, notes that there is a difference. A banana tree loses its entire trunk from year to year, whereas the trunk of the papaya tree survives from year to year but grows new branches. However, he cites another reason why one should recite a Borei P'ri Ha'Adamah on papayas based on the comments of Radvaz, 3:531. Radvaz discusses whether there is prohibition of orlah (the prohibition against benefiting from the fruits of a tree during its first three years) on a certain species of eggplant. The eggplant plant described has very similar features to that of the papaya. Radvaz suggests (in defense of the inhabitants of Israel at the time who were lenient to eat eggplant within the first three years) that any plant which produces fruit during its first year cannot be considered a tree and is not subject to the prohibition of orlah. R. Yosef Chaim notes that the same rule should apply to the papaya tree, which also produces fruit within the first year. If there is no prohibition of orlah, its fruit are considered p'ri adamah and their beracha is Borei P'ri Ha'Adamah. R. Shmuel HaLevi Vosner, Shevet HaLevi 6:165, is reluctant to rely on the leniency of Radvaz and considers the question a matter of doubt. He therefore rules that the rules of orlah apply to a papaya (in Israel). R. Vosner would likely agree that the beracha on the papaya is Borei P'ri Ha'Adamah based on the principle of safek berachot l'hakel (one should be lenient on matters of doubt regarding berachot) [The principle of safek berachot l'hakel also dictates that if there is a question whether one should recite Borei P'ri Ha'Eitz or Borei P'ri Ha'Adamah that he should recite Borei P'ri Ha'Adamah because the beracha of Borei P'ri Ha'Adamah covers all types of vegetation (Rama, Orach Chaim 202:18).]

Unripe Grapes
Tosafot, Berachot 36b, s.v. Shiuro, cite the opinion of R. Yehduai Gaon that the beracha on a fruit that has not reached full maturity is Borei P'ri Ha'Adamah. Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 202:2, rules that this only applies to grapes. [Rama, ad loc., applies this rule to olives and carob as well.] Shulchan Aruch adds that since it is difficult to determine that a grape has reached its full maturity, one should recite a Borei P'ri Ha'Adamah on grapes unless they are very large (gadol b'yoter), in which case one should recite a Borei P'ri Ha'Eitz. Mishna Berurah 202:15, adds that if it can be determined visually that the grapes are fully ripe, or one can see the seed from the outside, one may recite a Borei P'ri Ha'Eitz.

R. Shalom Schwadron, Teshuvot Maharsham 6:38, discusses the status of seedless raisins and whether the lack of seeds should impact the beracha. He concludes that it is considered a full-fledged grape and the beracha on wine that is made from it is Borei P'ri HaGafen. Nevertheless, R. Hershel Schachter, MiP'ninei HaRav, pg. 57, records that R. Chaim Soloveitchik and R. Yisrael M. Kagan (author of Mishna Berurah) were concerned for the inferior status of seedless grapes and recited Borei P'ri Ha'Adamah.