Chapter 54: 7-9
Laws of Primary and Secondary Foods
7. When crushed spices are mixed together with sugar, the spices are
considered of primary importance and the blessing appropriate to them is
recited. Borey pri ho'eitz is recited over nutmeg, and borey pri hadomoh is
recited over cinnamon and ginger.
8. A person who drinks unadulterated olive oil need not recite any blessing
at all, because it is harmful to him. If it is mixed together with other
ingredients, [they are considered ikar and the olive oil] tofeil, and a
blessing is recited for only the ikar.
Nevertheless, when a person has an ailment and needs the olive oil as a
remedy and mixes it with other ingredients so that it will not harm him,
his intention is fundamentally for the olive oil. [Therefore, it is
considered the ikar,] even though it is less in quantity than the other
ingredients. Hence, the blessing borey pri ho'eitz is recited for the
mixture, and this covers the other ingredients as well.
However, if the person is also thirsty, and drinks the mixture primarily to
quench his thirst, but since he has an ailment he also includes the olive
oil, he recites the blessing appropriate to he majority of the beverages.
The same law applies if he places nutmeg, cinnamon, or ginger in the
mixture, for the blessing depends on his intention.
9. With regard to all types of preserves, the honey or sugar is considered
tofeil, and the fruit, the ikar. Accordingly, the blessing which is
appropriate to the latter is recited. (See also Chapter 52.)
