Tangelo, Orlando

ORLANDO tangelos are large, have a tangerine taste, few seeds and juicy. Sometimes referred to as Honeybells, they generally have loose skin and are easier to peel than oranges, readily distinguished from them by a characteristic "nipple" at the stem. Tangelos can be used as a substitute for mandarin oranges or sweet oranges. The early maturing Orlando tangelo hybrid was created in 1911 by W.T. Swingle and is noted for its juiciness, mild and sweet flavor, large size about the size of an adult fist, and flat-round shape with a characteristic knob. California/Arizona tangelos have a slightly pebbled texture, good interior and exterior color, very few seeds, and a tight-fitting rind. Orlando tangelos harvest from mid-November to the early February. It originated as a cross between a Duncan grapefruit and a Dancy tangerine. When the Orlando tangelo was first cultivated, it was known by the name Lake tangelo. The trees of this variety grow to a large size and are easily recognized by their cup-shape leaves. Orlando tangelos are recognized as one of the more cold-tolerant varieties. Northern Florida grows significantly fewer tangelos, but they are much sweeter due to climate.