Does aloe vera require terumot & ma'aserot when eaten?

Answer

Shalom,

Only items that are considered food by the majority of people are classified as food that is obligated in terumot and ma’asrot (tithes). Aloe vera is primarily intended for external use, to be applied on the body. If someone consumes it, their opinion is considered nullified compared to the rest of the world, and it is not regarded as food. Therefore, it is exempt from terumot and ma’asrot.

Regarding kedushat shevi’it, the laws depend on whether the item’s benefit and consumption occur simultaneously. That is why aloe vera was discussed in the context of shemitah sanctity.

With blessings of Torah and the Land,

Avraham Sochovolsky

For more aloe-related information:

• Aloe vera
• Can we use an aloe-vera leaf to facilitate shoots taking root?
• Could Israeli aloe-vera and green tea body lotion pose a shemitah issue?
• Using aloe-vera for burns during shemitah