Oh, the enigmatic
fortune cookies, those little cookies that hold a fortune message often accompanied by several lucky numbers. Have you ever wondered about the origin of these
lucky cookies and how they became a popular tradition in Chinese restaurants? If so, keep reading to learn a bit more about their history.
The true origin of fortune cookies Incredibly, fortune cookies or
lucky cookies are not of Chinese origin; they are of American origin. According to the book
American Myths, Legends, and Tall Tales: An Encyclopedia of American Folklore, the Japanese and Chinese communities in
the United States dispute the creation of
fortune cookies.
The Japanese community claims that Japanese immigrant
Makoto Hagiwara, owner of a Japanese tea house located in
San Francisco, invented fortune cookies in 1914. Makoto made his own version of a famous Japanese cookie made from miso and sesame called
tsujiura senbei to accompany tea. These cookies also held a paper that foretold fortune, but unlike modern lucky cookies, the paper was placed right between the folds of the cookie.
Discover what the best dishes of Japanese cuisine are.On the other hand, the Chinese community argues that
David Jung, owner of a ramen shop located in
Los Angeles, invented fortune cookies during the Great Depression. Following an ancient Chinese legend, David Jung decided to place notes with inspiring phrases inside cookies to encourage unemployed workers.
Learn about the 10 most representative recipes of Chinese cuisine.
While these types of cookies were quite common in Japanese and Chinese restaurants across the United States, by the 1940s, it began to become clear how
lucky cookies became popular specifically in Chinese restaurants.
With the arrival of World War II, many Japanese had to close stores and restaurants, and it was then that the Chinese community seized the demand and made the
fortune cookie a tradition in their restaurants.
Today, the largest manufacturer of
lucky cookies is Wonton Food Inc., located in Brooklyn, New York, and distributes worldwide.
Now you know,
fortune cookies are of American origin, just like
mac & cheese or
apple pie.