Polish doughnuts, or pączki, are balls of yeast dough that are traditionally fried in lard or vegetable oil, topped with icing sugar and typically filled with jam or marmalade.
The perfect pączek weighs about 55 to 70 grams and contains a hefty 400 calories, according to connoisseurs.
In recent years, vegan versions have been growing in popularity.
Many Poles will eat several pączki on Tłusty Czwartek, or Fat Thursday, a last chance for some calorie-heavy indulgence before the traditional rigours of Lent.
Experts estimate that consumers throughout the country will eat around 100 million doughnuts on the day, which means two-and-a-half pączki per person on average.
Pączki have been the snack of choice on Fat Thursday since the 17th century and, according to superstition, not eating one brings bad luck for a year.
Fat Thursday is a kind of last hurrah before Lent, a period of fasting and solemn reflection for Roman Catholics in the run-up to Easter.
It can be compared to Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday observed in some other parts of the world.
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Source: IAR, PAP
