Honeybell Orange Juice

The citrus industry the United States is dominated by the orange. More specifically, it is dominated by its juice. Eight out of every ten oranges grown in America are sent directly to processing plants. Nowhere is the discrepancy between juice and fresh fruit larger than in Florida.

The Sunshine State is responsible for about seventy percent of the annual orange crop in America. Ninety-five percent of these oranges are used for juicing. The remaining five percent are sold to supermarkets on the US East Coast as fresh hand fruit. In this article we will discuss the world’s juiciest orange, which ironically is rarely used for juicing.

Okay, we have to fess up…we made a mistake already. The world’s greatest juicing orange is actually not an orange at all. Technically, it is a tangelo, which is a cross between a tangerine and a grapefruit. That means it is half orange, since the tangerine is a variety of the Mandarin orange. Even so, it is commonly called the Honeybell Orange.

The Honeybell is one of the few hybrid fruits that actually look like a hybrid fruit. It is about the size of the average grapefruit and its coloring is similar to that of the sweet orange. In spite of the fact that both its ancestors had seeds, most Honeybells are seedless. And when it comes to the juice, no other orange or citrus fruit can compare. When squeezed, just two of these succulent tangelos can provide a full glass of juice. It would take twice as many oranges to produce that much juice.

For this reason, the Honeybell orange must be eaten on a plate. Fruit lovers who try them for the first time receive a rather rude awakening when they bite into a skinned Honeybell, i.e., they often get sprayed. Like most exotic delicacies, there is only one way to eat a Honeybell orange. It should be peeled, sectioned, and eaten one piece at a time.

We know what you’re thinking…If the Honeybell orange is so juicy, why isn’t it sent to the processing plant? After all, just one of these tangelos produces more juice than two top shelf juicing oranges. And the juice is delicious. It is said to be sweeter and smoother than traditional orange juice.

There is, however, a very good reason why the Honeybell isn’t considered a juicing orange. In short, juicing oranges must be tough. They must have long harvest seasons and they must produce abundant crops.

The Honeybell doesn’t meet any of these requirements. It is among the most sensitive fruits on earth. Its harvest season lasts but a fortnight, from the middle to the end of January. Last but not least, the Honeybell orange is quite expensive. Due to low crop yields and the fact that they must be handpicked and packaged, the average Honeybell costs two to four dollars each! Orange juice manufactures could never afford to pay such steep fee. They buy their juicing oranges for pennies on the dollar, which is why the Honeybell will always be sold as a hand fruit. Of course, it can and probably should be juiced at home.

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