The Real Story of How Honeybells Came to Be

Honeybell season is almost here, and it’s a great time to learn about Honeybellsif you haven’t experienced a Honeybell yet. Honeybells are one of the most beloved citrus fruits in the US. Honeybell fruit has a very short growing season, just a few weeks each year, so people wait anxiously all year long to get Honeybells when they come into season. Honeybell fruit is often called Christmas fruit since it comes into season around Christmas time. Gifts of Honeybell fruit are always a great thing to give your friends and family, especially if they love gourmet fruit. This year give your loved ones a Honeybell gift and surprise them with the history of Honeybells.

Honeybells are really a combination fruit. A man who spent years trying to cross breed citrus fruits to come up with a new and delicious fruit finally hit just the right combination when he cross bred a tangerine and a grapefruit. The resulting fruit had a beautiful honey orange color, the sweetest taste of any citrus fruit known at the time, and unique shape that looked like a bell. Those attributes led him to call the fruit a Honeybell. Honeybells have no seeds, and they need to be planted from cuttings in order to grow each year. Honeybells also need special care when they are being picked so that the dome shape that gives it the look of a bell doesn’t get crushed. Honeybell fruits are so popular that often growers sell out their entire crop long before the first fruit is even picked. Growers suggest that if you want to order Honeybell gifts you should order them in advance. You will get a certificate mailed to you detailing the gift and you can give that as a gift. The actual fruit will be shipped as soon as it’s picked.

What makes Honeybells so special is really the taste. Most oranges are sweet, but a Honeybell is sweeter than any other orange or tangerine. Honeybells also have more juice than any other citrus fruits. When you pick up a Honeybell you can feel the weight in the fruit from all the juice inside. Some growers recommend that you use a bib to eat a Honeybell because of all the juice. Honeybells combine the best of a tangerine and a grapefruit, and until you have tried Honeybells you don’t know how good fresh citrus fruit can taste.

Taste the Sunshine with Hale Groves

At Hale Groves, we believe the best gifts come from the land, not a factory. For generations, our fruit has been grown slowly under the Florida sun, picked at its peak, and delivered fresh to your door. From sweet Navel Oranges to rare Honeybells, every gift shares the simple joy of real flavor—perfect for holidays, milestones, or everyday moments worth celebrating.

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