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Blessings in general must be vocalized. Someone who simply thinks a blessing has not fulfilled the mitzva. A person who hears a blessing should respond “Amen” to express agreement. If two people are about to eat at the same time, one of them can make the blessing out loud for both of them. The other one should respond “Amen,” thus fulfilling the requirement to make a blessing.
People reciting a blessing over food or drink should hold the item in their hand while reciting the blessing, and consume it immediately afterwards. One who recited the blessing but then waited quietly for a long time before eating, does not have to repeat the blessing as long as one did not become distracted. However, one who spoke about something unconnected to the blessing or the food, “loses” the blessing and must recite it again.
Those who recited Ha-etz on a fruit and had in mind other available fruits they might want to eat, cover all the fruits in their home with their blessing. This is the case even if the fruits were not on the table when they recited the blessing, and even if they did not know exactly which fruits were available. However, if they intended to eat only one specific piece of fruit when they recited the blessing, they must recite another blessing if they later decide to eat more fruit. The same rule applies if they made the blessing, ate the fruit, and decided they were finished eating.
