Why Honeybells are Called Honeybells

Have you ever wondered how Honeybells got the name “Honeybell”? The unique name for this unique fruit came from the fruit itself. A Honeybell is a hybrid fruit that was created by a food scientist and citrus fan who tried several different combinations of citrus fruits to create a new and exceptionally delicious fruit that would be tasty and very healthy. After years of trying to cross breed various species of citrus fruits this scientist came upon the hybrid he’d been searching for. By combining a tangerine and a specific grapefruit he created Honeybells. At first no one had ever seen anything like this unique fruit. It had a deep orange color, and it had a distinct bell shape unlike any other citrus fruit that ever been seen previously. The honey color of the fruit and the super sweet taste combined with the unique bell shape was the inspiration for the Honeybell name.

Honeybells were a hit from the start. People immediately loved the extraordinarily sweet taste of the fruit. Honeybells also have more juice than the average citrus fruit, which increased their popularity. Fresh citrus juice is used in everything from cocktails to breakfast drinks, smoothies, and baked desserts so gourmet cooks, chefs, and other food lovers couldn’t get enough of the sweet fruit with the huge amounts of juice. Honeybells are only available once a year, for a very short time, which just added to the mystique of the fruit and made them more popular. Honeybell fruit becomes available in late December and is gone by early February so the availability of the fruit is very limited. Citrus growers take orders all year for Honeybells, which are sent out as soon as they are picked, but if you order late and the crop is smaller is expected you may not get any. Citrus growers always recommend ordering Honeybell fruit early to make sure you get some once the Honeybell season starts. Some people order their Honeybells a year in advance to make sure that they get some every year.

Honeybell fruit is unique, and festive, and because it’s available during the holiday season it’s often considered to be the Christmas fruit. It’s hard to believe that this special citrus fruit was created by cross breeding two other citrus fruits but the efforts of a determined food scientist gave the world Honeybells.

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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