8 Fascinating Insights About Fortune Cookies

A popular dessert often linked to Chinese American eateries, fortune cookies are crispy delights typically served after meals. Inside each cookie lies a small piece of paper bearing a 'fortune.' However, their story goes much deeper. With an intriguing origin and a distinctive recipe, these cookies have a captivating history that’s well worth discovering.

1. Fortune cookies aren’t originally from China.

While commonly associated with Chinese American dishes, fortune cookies are thought to have Japanese roots. A similar treat, known as tsujiura senbei, dates back to 19th-century Kyoto. Made with sesame and miso, this cracker also featured a small paper fortune tucked inside.

These crackers were introduced to the U.S. by Japanese immigrants who moved to Hawaii and California following the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This act led to a need for affordable labor after Chinese immigrants were displaced.

2. The modern fortune cookie is widely believed to have been first marketed in California.

Many Japanese immigrants who relocated to the U.S. established themselves in San Francisco and Los Angeles. They brought the Kyoto fortune cookie recipe with them, and by the early 1900s, these treats began appearing in local bakeries across both cities.

The Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is frequently recognized as the first location in the U.S. to sell the contemporary fortune cookie. The exact origins of the treat remain disputed, with several entities, including Fugetsu-Do confectionery shop, Umeya snack manufacturer, and the Hong Kong Noodle Company in Los Angeles, all claiming to have created it around the same period.

3. The recipe for fortune cookies is straightforward.

The recipe for fortune cookies has always been quite simple. Unlike the original savory Japanese crackers made with sesame oil and miso, most modern cookies are crafted using sugar, flour, vegetable shortening, water, vanilla, and food coloring.

Once the batter is prepared, it’s spread into flat, thin circles on a heated baking tray. The cookies bake for just a few minutes until fully cooked, after which they are ready to be molded into their iconic shape.

4. The signature shape of fortune cookies is formed after baking.

Once baked, the cookies are taken out of the oven and swiftly folded into their classic arc shape while still warm and flexible. This is also the moment when the paper fortunes are inserted. The folding must be done rapidly, as the cookies harden quickly. After shaping, they are cooled, packaged, and sent to restaurants and stores.

While machines produce the majority of fortune cookies today, some artisanal bakers still craft them by hand. Recipes can vary, with some cookies featuring different colors and flavors, though a subtle vanilla undertone is typically present in all.

5. Fortune cookies are produced in massive quantities each year.

Pinpointing the exact number of fortune cookies made annually is challenging due to the many manufacturers and small-scale bakers involved. However, their popularity is undeniable. Estimates suggest approximately 3 billion fortune cookies are produced yearly, with one Brooklyn factory reportedly making 4.5 million daily, according to the Museum of Food and Drink. While the U.S. dominates in production and consumption, these crispy treats are also enjoyed in Chinese restaurants worldwide.

6. The world’s largest fortune cookie producer is located in New York City.

Wonton Food Inc., headquartered in Brooklyn, is the global leader in fortune cookie production. Established in 1973 by Ching Sun Wong, who moved from China to the U.S. in the 1960s, the company began in a store basement. Today, its multiple facilities produce a diverse range of cookies, including classic vanilla and unique flavors like chocolate and citrus.

7. The variety of unique fortunes is surprisingly limited.

Wonton Food Inc. maintains a database of approximately 15,000 fortunes used in all its cookies. Donald Lau, the former vice president and CFO of Wonton Food, authored the majority of these fortunes during his early years with the company. Drawing inspiration from everyday sources like newspapers and subway signs, Lau eventually stopped creating new fortunes after experiencing writer’s block.

Yang’s Fortunes, Inc., a San Francisco-based fortune cookie company, utilizes a database of around 5,000 fortunes for its cookies.

8. Becoming a fortune cookie writer could be in your future.

After Lau ceased writing fortunes regularly, Wonton Food Inc. started hiring freelance writers periodically to craft new fortunes. Other fortune cookie manufacturers also employ writers to develop fresh and creative messages.

These opportunities aren’t frequently advertised, so stay alert if you’re interested in adding this role to your resume. Fortune cookie writers are usually hired on a freelance basis and earn modest pay, but stumbling upon one of your own fortunes someday would undoubtedly be a rewarding experience.