Fortune cookie

Fortune Cookie

A fortune cookie is a crisp and sugary cookie usually made from flour, sugar, vanilla, and sesame seed oil with a piece of paper inside, a "fortune", on which is an aphorism, or a vague prophecy. The message inside may also include a Chinese phrase with translation and/or a list of lucky numbers used by some as lottery numbers, some of which have become actual winning numbers. Fortune cookies are often served as a dessert in Chinese restaurants in the United States and some other countries, but are absent in China. The exact origin of fortune cookies is unclear, though various immigrant groups in California claim to have popularized them in the early 20th century.

History

The history of fortune cookies is contested. One narrative proposes that the cookie originated in China, was brought over to the United States by early immigrants in the late 19th century. However, this theory is largely debunked as there is no historical record of such a cookie in China.

Another theory suggests that the fortune cookie was invented by a Japanese immigrant named Makoto Hagiwara. Hagiwara was a gardener who designed the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. He reportedly created the cookie to serve at the garden in the late 1890s or early 1900s.

Production

The largest manufacturer of the cookies is Wonton Food Inc., headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. They make over 4.5 million fortune cookies per day. During the mixing process, the fortune is added, after which the cookie batter is poured into cookie molds. After baking, the cookies are shaped while they are still hot.

Cultural Impact

Fortune cookies have spread around the world as a form of entertainment, despite their lack of authenticity as a traditional Chinese custom. They are served in Chinese restaurants in countries like Britain, Mexico, Italy, France, and Brazil, among others. The messages inside are often positive, but can also be cryptic, humorous, or occasionally cynical.

References

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A variety of fortune cookies
An early example of a fortune cookie from 1878
A broken fortune cookie with its fortune visible
A fortune cookie with a negative message
Inside a fortune cookie factory
Fortune cookies with messages in English and French

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