Question

Where are fortune cookies from?

Answer 1

Fortune cookies are commonly associated with Chinese cuisine, but their actual origin is a subject of some debate. Despite their association with Chinese restaurants, fortune cookies are not originally from China. The true origins of fortune cookies can be traced back to early 20th-century California in the United States.

One popular theory attributes the invention of fortune cookies to Japanese immigrants in California. The cookies are believed to have evolved from a traditional Japanese confectionery called "tsujiura senbei," which is a crispy, folded, and sweetened rice cracker with a piece of paper inside that contains a fortune or a prediction.

In the early 20th century, Chinese immigrants in California started producing and selling fortune cookies, possibly influenced by the Japanese tradition. By the 1920s and 1930s, fortune cookies became associated with Chinese-American cuisine, and they were often served in Chinese restaurants as a post-meal treat.

During World War II, the popularity of fortune cookies increased as American soldiers stationed in the Pacific encountered them and brought them back home. Fortune cookies became widely adopted in Chinese-American restaurants across the United States, and they eventually became a staple in many other Asian-themed restaurants as well.

So, while the inspiration for fortune cookies may have come from a Japanese tradition, their development and popularization occurred in the United States, particularly in California. Today, fortune cookies are often seen as a symbol of good luck and are enjoyed not only in the United States but also in many other countries around the world.