Facts About Honeybells (Honeybell Oranges)

Pictured: Ripe Honeybells from Hale Groves

Honeybell oranges, also known as Minneola tangelos, are a citrus fruit. They are actually hybrids of a Darcy tangerine and Duncan grapefruit; and sometimes with the Bowen grapefruit and Darcy tangerine.

Honeybells are usually the size of an adult fist and has a mixed sweet n sour flavor of the sweet mandarin and the tart flavored grapefruit. They’re also very juicy – usually way more juice than it has flesh. Since they have loose skin, they are pretty easy to peel, especially when compared to regular oranges.

In 1931, the Honeybell oranges were released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Horticulture Research Station in Orlando. You can easily identify Honeybells by their stem-end neck, which gives it a bell shape, which gave it its name.

It has a bright red orange color when it is fully mature. The skin is thin, making it a quick snack. Although it comes from a tangerine mix, they come in large sizes; usually between 3 and 3 ½ inches in diameter. You can also find between 0 and 12 seeds – 10 on average – in each Honeybell orange.

These oranges are very fruitful on their own, so they must be interplanted with pollenizers, like Sunburst tangerines, Temple tangerines or Fallglo tangerines, but each year there is usually a full crop to be plucked. Farmers usually plant them with mandarin orange or tangelo trees – this helps with the cross pollination and the crop overall. You can find them ripening between December and February – January is the peak month.

These make for great fruits during the winter.
The best place for the Honeybell to grow is in Floridian climates. They aren’t the most profitable orange to grow because their crop sizes are very unpredictable each year. Some years will offer abundance and others scarcity – this is why sometimes you see that they cost a bit more one year and cheaper the next. It is still the most popularly grown of the tangelo types.
Honeybell oranges are great for all sorts of dishes, including fruit salads, green salads and fruit drinks. Some even put vinaigrette dressing on them. Honeybells can also be placed on top of focaccia. Grilled honeybell oranges are also a popular choice. Marinades made with Honeybell oranges too make a great choice.

So this fruit is definitely a great choice for summertime meals and desserts. Honeybell oranges are popular all over the world.

Citrus Fruit Baskets: Traditional and Life-Affirming?

Easter Theme Citrus Gift Basket

One of the healthiest and increasingly popular gifts to send during the holidays or some special event is a citrus fruit basket.  Citrus fruits are enjoyed by just about everybody, and they are an important food source which contain essential vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamin C and many others.  In ancient times the fruits and flowers of citrus trees became renowned for their fragrance, which was used to perfume rooms, repel insects and sweeten breath.  Some believed that citrus fruits were remedies for poison or sickness.  Alexander the Great brought the first citrus fruits from India to his empire in Greece in 4th Century BCE, and later in 1493, Christopher Columbus introduced citrus fruits to the New World.  Florida and California are now the largest producers of the world’s finest fresh fruits which go into the best citrus fruit baskets.

The most common citrus fruits that go into a citrus fruit basket are traditional favorites that are generally available in the United States all year long, such as grapefruit, orange, clementine, tangerine, mandarin, lemon, lime, kumquat and pummelo.  Many gourmet citrus baskets also include pears, figs, apples or grapes as well as nuts, crackers and cheese to add a variety of taste as well as aroma and elegant decoration.  Occasionally other more exotic citrus fruits are included if they are seasonal and appropriate to the celebration or event.

You simply won’t go wrong when you send a citrus basket as a present.  Because the live fruits in a citrus basket are a celebration of life, they are most appropriate gifts to honor the birth of a baby, a wedding or anniversary, graduation or even a new job.  At the same time, the gift of a citrus fruit basket as condolence and sympathy in a time of grieving is more practical than sending flowers.  Sending a citrus basket to a mourner allows him or her to focus more on grieving for the departed loved one rather than having to cope with providing food and snacks for visitors paying respects.

The most traditional times of the year to send citrus fruit baskets are Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah when many people and businesses are expecting visitors and need to serve snacks that almost everyone will enjoy.  But a citrus fruit basket can also be enjoyed on more personal holidays like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.  The gift of a citrus fruit basket is smart, thoughtful, and money-savvy yet can lead to years of appreciation on your investment, whether you send it to a business or to your family.

A Citrus Fruit Basket to Delight Mom On Mother’s Day!

This Mother’s Day, why not give Mom a gift that she’ll really appreciate — like a beautiful citrus fruit basket filled with delicious, nutritious fresh fruits as well as other favorites like nuts, cheese, crackers or chocolates!

You can have a lot of fun putting together a customized citrus fruit basket yourself without too much investment of time and money, but Mom will still love that you did it just for her.  However, if you need something at last minute, you can find a wide range on the Internet of beautifully hand crafted and decorated citrus baskets filled with a variety of fine fruits along with other goodies for anywhere from US$20 to $100 with an easy search.

In fact, citrus fruit baskets make excellent gifts for almost any special occasion or event.  Because the live fruits in a citrus basket are so joyous and life-affirming, they are very appropriate gifts to celebrate the birth of a baby, a wedding or anniversary, graduation or new job.  At the same time, a citrus fruit basket is a thoughtful condolence and sympathy gesture in a time of grieving.  Traditionally, the most popular times to send citrus fruit baskets are Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah when many people and businesses are expecting visitors and need to serve snacks that almost everyone will enjoy.

The most common citrus fruits that go into a citrus fruit basket are traditional favorites that are generally available in the United States all year long, such as orange, clementine, lemon, lime, grapefruit, tangerine, mandarin, and kumquat.  Occasionally other more exotic citrus fruits are included if they are seasonal and appropriate to the event.  Many gourmet citrus baskets also include pears, figs, apples or grapes as well as nuts, crackers and cheese to add a variety of taste as well as aroma and elegant decoration.

Almost everyone loves citrus fruits, which also contain essential vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamin C and many others, and are an important food source.  The history of citrus fruits goes back to ancient times when the fruits and flowers of citrus trees became renowned for their fragrance, which was used to perfume rooms, repel insects and sweeten breath.

With the gift of a citrus basket you just can’t go wrong.  The gift of a citrus fruit basket is smart, thoughtful, easy on the wallet but can lead to years of appreciation on your investment, whether you send it to a business, to your family – or even as a special present to yourself.  Whether you do it yourself or order it from a specialty company, what you may lack in dollars can be made up for in imagination.

Fat Burning Foods – The Truth Behind Grapefruit and Citrus Fruits

According to an array of research and studies, many citrus foods-specifically grapefruit-help the body to burn fat. For example, the Nutrition and Medical Research Center at Scripps Clinic in San Diego initiated research and studies that prove how the simple consumption of grapefruit or grapefruit juice led to a significant loss in body fat and weight. While a fad-diet from the 1980s, titled the “grapefruit diet,” may have been the first source of the grapefruit fat burning rumors, experts and scientists are uncovering new information that supports the fruit’s powerful effects!

The Fat Burning Benefits of Grapefruit

Whether you drink a simple glass of pure grapefruit juice, or if you enjoy the fruit in its whole form, consumers of grapefruit experience significant fat burning benefits. In examining a clinical study of this fruit, leading researcher Dr. Fujioka created a trial wherein 100 obese individuals were monitored as some participants consumed grapefruit while others did not. While engaging in this trial, participants did not make any changes to their diet or exercise habits, other than those who were required to add a daily serving of grapefruit. Dr. Fujioka broke the participants into three groups, and studied their fat burning processes by implementing specific grapefruit requirements:

• The first group did not consume any grapefruit
• The second group ate half of a grapefruit before each meal, three times each day
• The third group drank grapefruit juice before each meal, three times each day.

According to Dr. Fujioka’s results and reports, the two groups who consumed grapefruit before each meal lost an average of 3.6 pounds over the course of 12 weeks! When comparing this to the group abstaining from grapefruit, the non-citrus eaters only lost an average of half of a pound during the 12 weeks.

Additional Benefits of Grapefruit

While grapefruit has been proven to work as a fat burning food, consumers of grapefruit will also experience additional health benefits. According to Dr. Fujioka’s study, individuals who consumed his allotted amounts of grapefruit each day also experienced decreased levels of insulin, which is a hormone that regulates the body’s metabolism, energy, and blood sugar levels. An excess of insulin can actually lead to serious illnesses, such as diabetes; therefore, a steady diet of grapefruit can actually prevent the development of this health disorder.

When examining how grapefruit provides consumers with fat burning and health benefits, some suggest that the lower insulin levels are the main catalyst for enhanced fat burning abilities. Essentially, as grapefruit stabilizes energy levels and insulin levels, the body is able to maintain a more stable energy state. Oftentimes when faced with an energy crash or feelings of fatigue, the body will jump into a hunger-mode, as the body will seek out sugary and unhealthy foods to receive an immediate and fast energy boost. When engaging in these habits, individuals are choosing foods that lead to weight gain. In contrast, when individuals experience more stable blood sugar levels, the body is able to regulate its energy, burning up fat cells in order to invigorate and boost the body.

Additional Citrus Fat Burning Foods

While grapefruit has been the most researched and verified fat burning citrus product, some studies indicate that other citrus foods can also lead to fat burning effects. For example, lemon and oranges may also promote enhanced fat burning processes; however, these fruits are less clinically supported than the powerful grapefruit benefits. When choosing to incorporate grapefruit into your diet, enjoy the whole fruit or purchase a juice with no additives, sugars, or concentrates. Fresh squeezed and all natural grapefruit will deliver the greatest fat burning benefits.

John Hartie is a recognised authority on fat burning foods, his website, http://www.bestfatburningfood.com provides a wealth of informative articles and resources on everything you will need to know about fat burning foods.

What to Look for in Nutrient Rich Oranges

Pictured: Oranges Prepare to Be Processed for Fresh Squeezed Florida Orange Juice

Oranges contain a range of nutrients that encompass more than just Vitamin C. Oranges contain foliate, fiber, antioxidants, potassium, thiamine calcium and magnesium. It is estimated that one orange can provide as much as 2/3 to all of the daily requirements of Vitamin C.

Oranges are such a versatile fruit tree that this evergreen is widely grown in Florida, Arizona and California. Orange trees can be found in not only sweet orange groves but also as part of an overall landscaping plan. The hearty bitter variety of orange tree tends to be found in landscaping design.

Being the United States third most popular fruit yielding only to apples and bananas is not the oranges only claim to fame. Orange blossoms are pungently sweet and the scent is commonly used in colognes, perfumes and soaps.

When buying oranges look for firm round oranges that seem heavy for there size. This heaviness is an indication that the orange is full of juice.

Some green in oranges may be acceptable. When oranges are left on the tree to ripen they may uptake some of the chlorophyll used by the tree. This will only strengthen the sweetness of the orange.

After you get your oranges home they can be kept in either the refrigerator or on the counter. Oranges will keep well for up to two weeks. Avoid extra moisture when storing oranges never store oranges in plastic bags for this will encourage growth of mold.

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