What are Honeybells? The Honeybell is the “Orange-Lover’s Orange”

One good thing about winter – with it comes winter citrus. And no citrus is quite so special as the hard-to-find Honeybell. Have you never tasted this extraordinary citrus fruit? If you’re yet to be initiated, you’re in for a treat – one that’s sure to turn you into a fan. Sometimes called, “the Orange-Lover’s Orange,” Honeybells truly are something special. With a wonderfully vibrant, sweet-tart flavor, lots of juice, and an interesting shape to boot, this fruit has a lot going for it!

To help you learn more about this exquisite, limited-edition citrus fruit, here are our Honeybell FAQs:

What is a Honeybell?

A Honeybell is a rare, hybrid orange cross that is also known as a Minneola Tangelo. Honeybells are a cross between a Dancy tangerine and a Duncan grapefruit, and are a type of tangelo. They are known for their honey-sweet flavor, unique bell shape, and juiciness.

Why is it called a Honeybell?

A variety of Minneola Tangelo, the citrus fruit’s name is a portmanteau made up of the words “honey” (for the fruit’s heavenly sweet juicy) and “bell” (for the knob on the stem-end that gives the rounded fruit a bell-like shape).

Do Honeybells have seeds?

Though a hybrid of two seeded fruits (the Duncan Grapefruit and the Dancy Tangerine), Honeybells themselves are usually seedless, or have very few seeds. From their tangerine forbear, Honeybells inherited thin skins that are easier to peel than regular oranges and usually separate cleanly from the flesh, leaving very little of the bitter-tasting pith behind. The flesh is very juicy, so you’ll want plenty of napkins on hand when you sit down to enjoy a fresh Honeybell! (By the way, fresh-squeezed Honeybell juice is a delightful alternative to regular orange juice.)

Are Honeybells good for you?

Like all citrus fruits, Honeybells have many health benefits…for one thing, they’re high in vitamin C, which can help boost your immune system. They also contain other vitamins and minerals, including fiber (good for the digestive system), folic acid (which can help reduce symptoms from asthma and bronchitis) and potassium (good for the heart).Plus, they’re low in calorie, fat-free, satisfy you without filling you up, and help you stay hydrated.

Do Honeybells really taste like oranges?

Honeybells and sweet oranges have a common ancestor – the mandarin, which is one of the original citrus fruits. Oranges are a hybrid of a mandarin and a pomelo, which are two of the “original” citrus fruits. Tangerines (which form a part of the Honeybell’s makeup) are a variety of mandarin, so oranges and Honeybells have this fruit in common as an ancestor. They also have the pomelo in common as an ancestor, since grapefruit is a direct descendent of the pomelo fruit.

It’s not surprising, then, that the flavor of a Honeybell is reminiscent of that of an especially tasty, sweet orange. But don’t let the “honey” part of the name fool you – while Honeybells are very sweet thanks to (owing to their tangerine ancestor), they’re get just enough sour from their grapefruit relative to give them a flavor that’s just the right amount of sweet and tart. It’s a flavor that many orange-lovers covet, but one that’s provided more consistently by the Honeybell.

Why are Honeybells so tough to get?

There’s only one problem with Honeybells – they truly are a “limited edition” fruit! There are a couple of reasons for this: for one thing, their parent trees are temperamental, growing well in only two locations (along Florida’s Indian River region and the West Coast of the United States). The fruit itself is more delicate than other citrus fruits, which results in fewer fruits being fit to ship and enjoy. And finally, the season is very short (only about thirty days), so the demand is high when Honeybells are in season.

Hale Groves is proud to offer a couple of different Honeybell varieties (there’s our classic Hale Honeybells and our Hale Golden Honeybells), which helps to extend the season overall. But the season is still short, and because our standards for quality fruit are so high, our selection is small. That’s why we encourage our customers to order their Honeybells as soon as possible…we wouldn’t want them to miss out on this incredible citrus sensation!

Do Honeybells make a great gift?

Do they? Do they ever! The scarcity of Honeybells makes them an exotic treat for some people, and their incredible flavor makes them an instant go-to for any citrus lover. If you want to surprise a loved one with a gift of Honeybells while you’re placing your own Hale Groves order, the options for doing so are endless…here are just a few of our Honeybell gift boxes in which this delightful citrus is the star:

• Honeybell Hugs. Wrapped in tissue paper dotted with hearts and surrounded by foil-wrapped chocolate hearts, these nine snack-sized Mini Honeybells are a great way to say, “I love you.”
• Honeybell Hostess Tote. Never show up empty-handed! Your host will appreciate this cheerful felt tote packed with premium Honeybells, petite Navel Oranges, Spice Cookies, Salted Pistachios and Milk Chocolate Hearts.
• Hello Spring Basket Box with Honeybells. A fun alternative to a traditional Easter basket, our cheerful basket box is decorated with a colorful floral wreath and warm spring message and comes packed with premium Hale Honeybells, Honey-Sweet Tangerines, Toasted Coconut and Chocolate Chip Cookies, Jelly Belly® Beans, foil-wrapped Milk Chocolate Eggs and a package of Sea Salt Crunch Popcorn.
• Honeybell Duet. If they’ve never tasted Honeybells, this gift box will let them taste two varieties over two months! A great way to let your thoughtfulness go farther.
• Pot o’ Gold Gift Box. Packed with gold foil-wrapped chocolate coins in a shamrock-sprigged gift box, half-a-dozen premium Honeybells make a great gift for St. Patrick’s Day.

Apart from eating fresh out of hand and juicing, how else can Honeybells be enjoyed?

With their delicious, more-orange-than-orange flavor, Honeybells are good for more than snacking. Try them in any recipe that calls for citrus juice or segments and see how it brightens them up! Honeybells are wonderful in sorbets, salads, marmalades or as a topping for fruit tarts. Their juice is also fabulous for fancy brunches and in cocktails.

So that’s the Honeybell rundown. Make sure you stock up on this exquisite citrus fruit before it’s one for another year and shop Hale’s complete assortment of Honeybell gifts while you can!

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