Dear Rabbi Simon
The muesli I eat has grain (majority ingredient) and dried fruit ( about 30%). How do we determine if this grain is sufficiently improved/processed to become a Mezonot beracha, rather than maintain its Ha’adama status?
The marketing blurb on the box says ‘toasted and malted wheat flakes’ amongst other grain flakes. Implies that it needs some form of cooking to process the kernels into flakes.
I’ve always added to yoghurt and made a mezonot beracha (treating the yoghurt as tafel [subordinate] so no beracha) and the longer ‘al ha-michya after-blessing. But now I am wondering if it should be ha’adama / borei nefashos?
Thanks
Baruch
Dear Baruch
Thank you for your sophisticated question.
Going by the description in your email, I think you should recite ha-adamah (on the “toasted and malted wheat flakes,” etc.) and afterwards, borei nefashot. However, the yoghurt may well warrant its own berakhah. I am not sure that it is subordinate to the muesli in the same way that cereal is to milk. I am inclined to suggest that you say shehakol on it (after ha-adamah on the muesli) or say shehakol independently on a beverage (or another food item) instead.
For (lots) more information, see https://www.star-k.org/articles/kashrus-kurrents/577/brochos-for-breakfast/.
Best wishes
Rabbi Rashi Simon