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<font size=3>My wife returned on EL from EY last Sunday. She had
ordered mehadrin food. It came with a roll marked
"Mezonos." It is hard for me to understand how the
Mehadrin hashgacha could label a roll "Mezonos" in the light of
the following. I can only wonder why people are being misled.
YL<br><br>
From the OU Halacha Yomis.<br><br>
Q: I have seen sandwiches and rolls labeled "Mezonos Rolls." Is
the bracha on these rolls really mezonos?<br><br>
<br>
A. As noted in the previous Halacha Yomis, the Shulchan Aruch (O.C.
168:7) rules that the bracha on baked dough made with honey, oil, milk or
spices is borei minei mezonos. How much spice or flavor must be added to
the dough to render the bracha mezonos and not hamotzi? The Shulchan
Aruch rules that a discernable taste is sufficient, and this position is
followed by Sephardic Jewry. In contrast, the Rama rules that the flavor
must be predominant, and this ruling is followed by Ashkenazic Jewry. The
OU poskim, as well as many others, understand the Rama to mean that the
bracha is mezonos only if the final product tastes like cake, and not
like bread.<br><br>
"Mezonos Rolls" are generally kneaded with fruit juice and
water. Typically, they taste almost exactly like regular rolls. Rav
Belsky and Rav Schachter both held that they are without question hamotzi
for Ashkenazim. Even for Sephardim, the bracha may be hamotzi, since the
fruit juice is often not discernable.<br><br>
<br>
From today's OU Halacha Yomi.<br><br>
<br>
<b>Q: I have seen sandwiches and rolls labeled “Mezonos Rolls.” Is the
<i>bracha</i> on these rolls really <i>mezonos</i>?</b> <br><br>
A. As noted in the previous <i>Halacha Yomis</i>, the <i>Shulchan
Aruch</i> (O.C. 168:7) rules that the <i>bracha</i> on baked dough made
with honey, oil, milk or spices is <i>borei minei mezonos</i>. How much
spice or flavor must be added to the dough to render the <i>bracha</i>
<i>mezonos</i> and not <i>hamotzi</i>? The <i>Shulchan</i> <i>Aruch</i>
rules that a discernable taste is sufficient, and this position is
followed by Sephardic Jewry. In contrast, the <i>Rama</i> rules that the
flavor must be predominant, and this ruling is followed by Ashkenazic
Jewry. The OU <i>poskim</i>, as well as many others, understand the Rama
to mean that the <i>bracha</i> is <i>mezonos</i> only if the final
product tastes like cake, and not like bread.<br><br>
“Mezonos Rolls” are generally kneaded with fruit juice and water.
Typically, they taste almost exactly like regular rolls. Rav Belsky and
Rav Schachter both held that they are without question <i>hamotzi</i> for
<i>Ashkenazim</i>. Even for <i>Sephardim</i>, the <i>bracha </i>may be
<i>hamotzi</i>, since the fruit juice is often not discernable.<br><br>
<br>
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