It’s only been on Waitrose shelves for a few hours, but Heston Blumenthal’s latest festive creation has already hit eBay.

The follow-up to his Hidden Orange Christmas Pudding - which was reportedly selling for more than £100 a pop on the auction site last year - is a mince pie that has a dash of pine-scented sugar to give it the aroma of a Christmas tree.

In further breaks with tradition, the square pies (rsp: £3.29 for a box of six) are made with puff pastry rather than shortcrust, and the filling is a Blumenthal original made with lemon curd, rose water and apple purée mixed with lemon and orange juice.

“A Heston from Waitrose Mince Pie is a complete re-invention of the humble mince pie,” said Waitrose buyer Alison McLoughlin. “Just like Heston’s version of the Christmas pudding, we’re expecting his new mince pies to fly off the shelves.”

With bids on the sole box on eBay currently standing at £1.04, the Christmas rush has apparently yet to get under way.