Beracha on Gum

Question: Does one recite a beracha on gum if one has no intention on swallowing it?

Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 204:7) writes that one does not recite a beracha before or after water if they are drinking it for medical purposes such as to clear one’s throat as one does not benefit from tasting the water when swallowing. R’ Ovadia Hadaya (Yaskil Avdi 8:7) compares this to chewing gum, writing that one does not recite a beracha before chewing gum which one does not swallow.

The Shulchan Aruch (OC 202:15) writes that one recites the beracha of shehakol before eating sweets and sugar. Following this, R’ Benzion Abba Shaul (Ohr Letzion 2:14:8) and R’ Moshe Stern (Baer Moshe 2:12) write that one must say a beracha before chewing gum as inevitably one does swallow sugar.

R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer OC 7:33; 9:108) adds that one is benefitting from the flavouring, too. The Gemara (Berachos 35a) teaches that the reason for saying a beracha before eating is that one must not benefit from this world without reciting a beracha first. This applies no less to flavoured gum (See Igros Moshe OC 2:57; Rivevos Ephraim 6:80:2; 7:219 Piskei Teshuvos 202:34).

In conclusion, one must recite the beracha of shehakol before chewing gum.