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The enigmatic history of fortune cookies
History

The enigmatic history of fortune cookies

By Sofía Danis - 2023-07-20T17:03:30Z
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.

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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.

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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.