Honeybell Season is Here! Honeybell FAQs and Facts 2024

Great news… Honeybells are here! Luscious, delicious, juicy Honeybell oranges, the orange-lovers orange (even though there’s no orange in them at all). If you can’t find them in the stores, not to worry – you can order Honeybell oranges directly from Pittman & Davis (and you should, because ours are the best!).

Wait…you’ve never tasted a Honeybell orange?

Oh, boy…are you ever in for a treat!

Take a look at our Honeybell FAQs to see why:

• What are Honeybells?

Honeybell fruit (also known as Honeybell tangelos or Minneola Tangelos) are a citrus hybrid created by crossing a Darcy Tangerine and a Duncan Grapefruit. The Honeybell Tangelo gets its sweetness and easy-to-peel skin from the tangerine, plus a touch of tartness from the grapefruit for a tangy-sweet flavor that’s irresistible.

• Why are they called “Honeybells?”

Their sweet-and-tangy taste isn’t all that makes the Honeybell unique. This fist-sized citrus fruit is very juicy with a loose, thin, bright red-orange skin that’s easy to remove (more so than most orange varieties). But what really makes it stand out is its shape – Honeybells get their name from the neck on the stem-end of the fruit which gives them a distinctly bell-like shape.

• Where do Honeybells come from?

A relatively new citrus fruit, Honeybells were released by the USDA Horticulture Research Station in Orlando in 1931.

• When are honeybell oranges in season?

The honeybell oranges’ season is, regrettably, rather short – from mid-November to early February, so not quite three months – which is why you might have trouble finding them in your local stores. Therefore, keep your eyes open and snap them up when you can – or better still, buy them online at Pittman & Davis!

• Where does a honeybell orange tree grow?

When it comes to honeybells, plant location is a major factor for successful growth. Because they are extremely sensitive to even slight variations in temperature, honeybells can only be grown in certain regions of the country. Today, most of the honeybell trees in America grow along a section of the Indian River in Florida (which is why they are also known as Florida honeybells or Indian River honeybells). You can also find honeybell groves in parts of California, Arizona and Texas.

• Are honeybells healthy to eat?

Honeybell fruit is a nutritional powerhouse, standing out as an excellent source of certain vitamins and minerals. A large honeybell can fulfill your entire daily vitamin C requirement as well as provide you with around 5% of your daily vitamin A and calcium needs. Keep in mind, though, if you take medication that is affected by eating grapefruit, you should avoid honeybells as one of their parent fruits is grapefruit.

• What’s the best way to enjoy a Honeybell Orange?

Probably the best way to enjoy a Honeybell Tangelo is to eat it fresh out of hand as a tasty, nutritious snack, but they’re also wonderful in many dishes, from salads to drinks to desserts. Honeybells can also be enjoyed grilled or used in marinades. You can also juice them for a particularly tasty breakfast beverage!

• I’d love to try some, but I can’t find them at my local grocery store. Where can I buy honeybell oranges near me?

If you’ve done a web search for “honeybell oranges near me” or “honeybells near me” and come up short, it’s not surprising – Florida honeybell oranges are generally harvested in January, and their fruit must be handpicked or clipped. Between their limited growing location, short harvest season, and difficulty in harvesting them, honeybells can be very difficult to find! Unless you live in an area local to where they’re grown, you’re best bet is to order them online.

Here’s great news – you can buy Honeybell oranges online at Pittman & Davis! Our Honeybells are always juicy, delicious, and perfectly ripe because we pick them at their peak of freshness. But their season is short (just six-to-eight weeks) and their crop size can be unpredictable, so don’t wait or place your order!