What Bracha for Fruit?
Learn the Borei Pri HaEtz blessing for tree fruits
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָעֵץ
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha'olam, borei pri ha'etz.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the tree.
Fruits That Get HaEtz
Borei Pri HaEtz is said on fruits that grow on trees. The halachic definition of a "tree" is a plant whose trunk survives from year to year. Common examples:
Common HaEtz Fruits
- Apples
- Oranges, Lemons, Grapefruits
- Grapes (whole, not juice/wine)
- Pears, Peaches, Plums
- Cherries, Apricots
- Dates, Figs, Pomegranates
- Olives
- Mangoes, Avocados
- Nuts (almonds, walnuts, etc.)
NOT HaEtz (Despite Growing on Plants)
- Bananas - HaAdama (plant dies each year)
- Pineapple - HaAdama
- Strawberries - HaAdama (ground fruit)
- Watermelon - HaAdama
- Papaya - Disputed (many say HaAdama)
The Seven Species
The Torah mentions seven special species of the Land of Israel. Tree fruits from this list (grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, dates) have special significance and are given precedence when saying blessings.
Order of Precedence
When eating multiple fruits, there's an order for which to bless first:
- Olives
- Dates
- Grapes
- Figs
- Pomegranates
- Other tree fruits (prefer whole over cut)
Frequently Asked Questions
Bananas are "Borei Pri HaAdama" (fruit of the ground), not HaEtz. The banana plant dies and regrows each year, so it's not halachically a tree.
Dried fruit (raisins, dried apricots, prunes, etc.) keeps the same HaEtz blessing as fresh fruit.
Most fruit juices (apple juice, orange juice) are "Shehakol" since they're processed. Wine and grape juice are the exception with HaGafen.