The History of Honeybells
Honeybells are one of the most popular types of citrus fruits that you can buy. Honeybells are known for having an extremely sweet taste and lots of delicious juice. Honeybells are considered to be a premium citrus fruit because they are only available for a very short time every year. Honeybells are only in season for a few weeks starting in late-December and ending in mid- to late-January. Sometimes these bright orange treats are called Christmas fruit because they come into season around the time of Christmas. They also have a festive bell shape that some people associate with Christmas, although the shape wasn’t intentional. It was a happy accident that occurred when the Honeybell was created.
Honeybells, which are also called Tangelos, were created by cross breeding a tangerine and a grapefruit. In 1931 the US Dept of Agriculture was experimenting with cross breeding many different species of fruits to try and create new fruits and to see how the cross breeding of citrus plants would work. They crossed a Dancy Tangerine with a Duncan Grapefruit and got a bright orange, bell shaped fruit that was remarkably sweet and juicy. That’s how the Honeybell appeared. Ever since then it has been one of the most popular fruits that you can buy.
Honeybells have the pebbly skin and bright color of a tangerine and are sweet like tangerines but they have the health benefits and flesh texture of a grapefruit. This unique combination is what makes Honeybells so delicious and so hard to get. Honeybell fruit baskets are very popular gifts for Christmas because these tasty treats are just coming into season at that time. Many gourmet food fans also love to make preserves and other treats from Honeybells so that that they can enjoy the sweet taste all year round.
Honeybells generally sell out each year because there is such a limited supply of them. If you want to get your hands on some Honeybells, it is strongly recommended that you pre-order them. You can order fruit baskets that contain Honeybells or just boxes of Honeybells but you should be sure to order at least several months early. Some people place orders for these tasty Tangelos as much as a year in advance to make sure that they are able to get some of the limited crop. Order early and you can enjoy fresh and delicious Honeybells too.
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.
Shop Now