What Makes Honeybells So Special
Honeybells are no ordinary citrus fruit. Honeybells are one of the most beloved citrus fruits that you can buy. Honeybells are a special fruit that only is in season for a very short time every year, usually from late December through early February. These sweet fruits are famous for their festive bell shape, bright colored deep orange skin, and extra sweet taste. Honeybells also are known for having a lot of juice. Just one Honeybell can produce up to a cup or more of juice. Honeybell fruits are also easy to peel and a medium size, which make them easy for anyone to eat.
Honeybells are actually a hybrid fruit; it didn’t exist until the early 1900s. A food scientist who loved citrus fruit kept interbreeding different citrus fruits trying to get one that combine all the best parts of delicious citrus fruits like oranges, tangerines and grapefruit. He finally hit the perfect combination when he bred a tangerine and a grapefruit together. The fruit that was created had the deep color of the tangerine and the juiciness of a grapefruit. It also had a remarkably sweet taste and a unique bell shape. The extra sweet taste and the shape led to the Honeybell getting its name.
One of the reasons why Honeybells are so special is because they are the only fruit to be associated with the Christmas season. The Honeybell doesn’t come into season until just about Christmas time, and disappears quickly after Christmas. Because of the timing of its growing season and because of the festive bell shape that the Honeybell has it is considered to be the Christmas fruit and many Honeybells are given as Christmas gifts each year. It’s a tradition in thousands of households around the US to use Honeybells to stuff stockings, make special Christmas cocktails and desserts, and to use to make a delicious Christmas dinner. Making a special Christmas breakfast featuring Honeybell treats is a tradition that is quickly becoming trendy in the US in households where people may have to attend several different holiday meals at the homes of different relatives in order to fulfill social obligations.
If you want to try Honeybells this year or if you want to give Honeybells as gifts you should order them now. Growers take orders for Honeybells all year, and then send out the fruit after it is picked. If you don’t order in time it can be tough to get any since they often sell out.
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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