Costa Coffee's Terry's Chocolate Orange muffin topped with a single segment of the iconic treat has proved so popular that one mum will be unwrapping and placing 1.2 million of them by hand this Christmas.
The coffee chain claims to be selling one muffin every six seconds since it launched last month but Carambar & Co, the company which makes Terry's, told them they were unable unable to supply the segments individually.
The discovery was made by Cherrytree Bakery in Burnley, Lancs, which makes the snacks on behalf of Costa.
They have now tasked Michaela Walsh, 37, who works in the bakery's factory, personally tap and unwrap 64,000 Chocolate Oranges into 20 pieces, to ensure a segment could be placed on top of each muffin.
Mum-of-two Michaela said: "We were a little disappointed when we realised that we weren't going to be able to get the segments individually, but we did understand.
"We only have a seven week production line for these muffins so it didn't make sense for them to change their whole process to supply individual segments of the Oranges.
"But my children think it's absolutely hilarious that my job is to tap and unwrap thousands of the chocolates and place more than a million of the segments by hand.
"We started production back in October ready for the launch of the muffins in November, so with several weeks practice under my belt already it only takes me five seconds to take the orange out of the box, tap, unwrap it and separate the segments.
"But you have to be careful not to damage the segments, and sometimes several will stick to the core so you have to pull them apart gently."
The family-orientated bakery, which employs 109 staff, is producing up to 30 batches of the muffins everyday, with 3,250 in each batch ready for distribution across the UK.
But just as quick as they're flying out of the factory, they are flying off the shelves, and Michaela believes they are so popular because they are hand-finished - but doesn't think people realise the segments are placed on top by hand.
Michaela, who has performed several roles in her four years at the bakery, including working in the packaging, toppings and decorating departments, will be busy right up until Christmas Eve with the rest of the team.
She said: "We know they have been extremely popular, but I couldn't believe it when I heard they were selling one every six seconds.
"It's quite a shocking figure when you think that it takes two and half hours to make a complete batch.
"We make lots of different cakes and biscuits for several major companies and we do a lot of artisan things too, so we're no strangers to finishing things by hand.
"I think people appreciate something more when they know it's handmade but I'm not sure if people realise that we place the segments on these muffins individually.
"I hope when they realise it puts a smile on their face, because we definitely have a smile on our face when we're making them.
"Working here is like being surrounded by family, and we all love Christmas because we make so many delicious things and we get to take some home."
