Honeybell: Meet the Orlando Tangelo

The name Honeybell is an English word. This name dates back far into the early history of British culture. It is the continuation of the female name Anabel. Anabel is a derivative of the word amablis, which is Latin for lovable. The Florida Honeybell prange is well deserving of its name. It is sweet, juicy and loved by many fruit enthusiasts. In fact, the Honeybell Orange is so lovable that many of us plan all year for its harvest.

The history of the Honeybell orange is believed to have started as far back as 3,000 years ago in Southeast Asia. Today the state of Florida is the common grounds for the Florida Honeybell orange. Honeybell, also referred to as tangelos, are a citrus mix between the tangerine and the grapefruit. It is not an orange at all. Yet, it has very similar characteristics. It is large like an orange and wonderfully sweet in taste.

A major difference is the Honeybell orange is seedless. The skin is loose fitting. If you held a Honeybell orange in your hand, you could also tell that it contains a significant amount of juice. Florida first discovered the Honeybell orange in the late 1800’s. Dr. Swingle and Dr. Webber began reproducing the tangelo in 1897.

The Honeybell reproduced well in Florida, specifically because of the seasonal environment. The dirt used for planting was rich, there was enough rain to keep the dirt hydrated and the tempature was steady. It was warm during the day and a little cooler during the night, offering the ideal environments to reproduce the Honeybell orange.

Honeybells are just one type of tangelo. Today there are many other varieties including the Orlando tangelo. The Orlando tangelo arrived approximately 12 to 15 years later than the Honeybell. Unlike the Honeybell orange, the Orlando tangelo is a West Coast native. The home of the Orlando tangelo is California and Arizona.

The Orlando tangelo matures a little earlier than a Honeybell orange. Its harvest season begins in November and lasts until Feburary. Though they may mature a bit faster than the Honeybell orange, they are seasonal. There is only one chance a year to shop for Orlando tangelos or Honeybell oranges.

Like the Honeybell, the Orlando tangelo is very sweet in taste. It is just as juicy as the Honeybell some would argue, yet a little milder in flavor. The texture of this tangelo is a little rough and slightly bumpy. It has little or no seeds. The Orlando tangelo appears to be identical to the Honeybell in size and color.

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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