Honeybell Oranges

Honeybell Oranges:

We are approaching the season for the famous Honeybell orange .  I'm reminded of one time. when I was working at a supermarket. our produce manager manager got on the P.A. system to promote the Honeybells and said, "What the hell!  Buy a Honeybell.  Well, no sooner did he put down the microphone the store manager was calling him on the store intercom to tell him that he couldn't say that.   What a hoot.  The produce guy didn't see anything wrong with it. 

Honeybell oranges are exceptionally sweet and juicy and only reach the peak of ripeness during January.  Also known as Minneola Tangelos,  Honeybell oranges are actually not oranges at all.  They are a cross between Darcy variety of tangerine and either  Duncan or Bowen variety of grapefruit.

The Honeybell is prized for its sweetness and relative scarcity along with its abundant supply of juice.  All Honeybell trees in the U.S. grow along the Indian River in Florida.  A Honeybell is the size of an adult fist and has a tart, tangy,  tangerine taste and a large quantity of juice.  They generally have loose skin and are easier to peel than an orange with a characteristic "nipple" at the stem.  This feature give it the look of a bell, hence the name "Honeybell". 

In season Honeybells are available in your supermarket.  They can also be ordered online directly from commercial orchards  or through catalogues as a gift item.  

Consider Honeybells as a gift of sunshine for someone you love, or yourself.