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HISTORY
Everything You Know About Fortune Cookies Is A Lie
Surprisingly, they don’t actually come from China.
Let’s unwrap the origins of the yummy food by asking a simple question: where did Chinese fortune cookies initially come from? The answer is (surprisingly) not China. In fact, their rise to prominence across the United States is a story of marketing genius.
It’s common for people to get a little piece of candy with their check in several restaurants. For example, I often receive a few peppermints once I’ve paid the bill and the waitress hands me the receipt.
But if you dine at a Chinese restaurant in the U.S, you’ll often get a small cookie containing an inspirational quote or prediction for the future. Although many people equate fortune cookies with Chinese restaurants, their origins are actually traceable to Japan and 20th century America.
The Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine is one of the most recognizable cultural sites in Japan. People from all over the country visit to pray for prosperity and good fortune by ringing a large pair of bells.
One day, a chain of family bakeries sprung up around the shrine, selling omikuji senbei (fortune crackers) or tsujiura suzu (bells with fortunes). Their shape is intended to resemble the temple…
