Eating and Drinking

1. It is forbidden for men (starting at bar mitzvah) and women (starting at bat mitzvah) to eat or drink anything on Tishah B’Av. The fast begins at שקיעה, sunset of the night before and ends at Tzait Ha’Kochavim — when the stars come out, approximately forty to forty-five minutes after sunset on Tishah B’Av. 

2. a. One may not rinse one’s mouth on this fast day, because we are concerned that perhaps he will swallow the water.

b. Nevertheless, if he is accustomed to rinsing his mouth, and not doing so will be extremely difficult for him, he may do so. However, extra care must be taken not to swallow even the slightest amount of water, therefore he should bend his head while rinsing. One should also be careful not to rinse with more than a rivi’it (three ounces) of water.

3. It is not permissible to taste a food or drink (by placing it on the tongue) to determine if it needs more salt or spice.

4. a. An otherwise healthy person who suffers from a headache (or other pain) during the fast is permitted to take medicine to relieve it as long as it is not flavored and he swallows it without water.

b. If a person is sick or has a condition that requires daily medication he is permitted to take it. If it has flavor and cannot be substituted with an unflavored kind a Rabbi should be consulted.

5. a. Even if a person accidentally ate and drank on Tishah B’Av, he should still fast for the remainder of the day.

b. One is not required to fast on another day to make up this fast

c. If one ate more than a kezayit (one ounce) it is questionable whether or not he may recite Aneinu (the special prayer recited on fast days during Shemoneh Esrei) during the Prayer Service.

6. If he accidentally forgot that it was a fast day and made a blessing over a food, he should eat a tiny amount so as not to have recited the blessing in vain.

7. It is not permitted to chew gum on a fast day because the flavor is swallowed.