What Spice(s) do you use for Havdala?

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Pita ↓

Thu, Mar 04 2021, 1:11 pm

I am just curious.

I know cloves are traditional. Some use myrtle. I love the smell of Cardamom, so often use that. Once when camping I used a bag of chocolate chip cookies (they smelled great)!

What do you use? Is it always the same thing, or do you switch out?

amother

Azure

Thu, Mar 04 2021, 1:12 pm

I grew up using hadasim leaves but now I am boring and use cloves.

ETA: we also used bits of the branches and said "borei atzay besamim" instead of "borei minay besamin". Former sefardi.

ra_mom

Thu, Mar 04 2021, 1:14 pm

Cloves
My pesach jar actually has star anise, not cloves.

Elfrida

Thu, Mar 04 2021, 1:25 pm

I like to pick a sprig of either mint or sheba from the bushes growing outside the window. Both, if there's a crowd. In the winter the mint dies down so then I stick to sheba. There is cinnamon or cloves in reserve in the kitchen.

(Sheba is a common Israeli herb, known in english as wormwood or artemisia.)

estreya

Thu, Mar 04 2021, 1:32 pm

Mint and/or shiiba (when we can get it) or mix of cinnamon sticks, cloves [and dried orange peel]

bigsis144

Thu, Mar 04 2021, 1:50 pm

We usually use cinnamon because it’s always on hand.

When I was a kid, we picked a fresh sprig of rosemary from a bush on our yard. So good!

↑ Pita ↓

Thu, Mar 04 2021, 2:00 pm

Does anyone use perfume?

I love the "borei atzay besamim"!

avrahamama

Thu, Mar 04 2021, 2:01 pm

Right now cardamon pods.

I like to use orange blossom water or rose water but my husband doesn't.

freilicheima

Thu, Mar 04 2021, 2:16 pm

Cloves, Cinnamon and Lavender.

↑ Pita ↓

Thu, Mar 04 2021, 2:41 pm

avrahamama wrote:

Right now cardamon pods.

I like to use orange blossom water or rose water but my husband doesn't.

I LOVE those scents!

Ima Piano

Thu, Mar 04 2021, 2:45 pm

We use cloves
I didn't know ppl use other things

Teomima

Thu, Mar 04 2021, 3:09 pm

Grew up using cloves or fresh springs of rosemary. Now we use mostly cinnamon, sometimes rosemary.

amother

Ginger

Thu, Mar 04 2021, 3:30 pm

Pita wrote:

Does anyone use perfume?

I love the "borei atzay besamim"!

I think one is not allowed to use perfume, it has to be a plant

It is best not to use manmade substances for the besamim, as some are of the opinion that a blessing should not be recited on them (V’Zos HaBracha 19:4).

icedcoffee

Thu, Mar 04 2021, 3:45 pm

We use cloves and rosewater!

↑ Pita

Thu, Mar 04 2021, 6:56 pm

I heard a Chabad rabbi one say that when he worked in a perfume store he would say "borei minei besamim" every time he entered the store. That doesn't mean it can be used for Havdala, but I didn't realize the bracha could be an issue. Thank you for bringing that to my attention!

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