
6 Fortune Cookie Secrets They Don’t Want You to Know
What’s That? | Fortune Cookies
1. Fortune cookies are inspired by a Japanese dessert

In the 19th century, a treat very similar in appearance to the modern fortune cookie was created in Kyoto, Japan. The tsujiura senbei (辻占煎餅) cookie is baked with a darker batter and is seasoned with miso and topped with sesame seeds rather than vanilla and sugar found in the stereotypical fortune cookie. Tsujiura senbei contain the trademark fortune written on paper; however, it is wedged into the bend of the cookie rather than sealed inside it.
2. Fortune cookies were invented in the United States
Fortune cookies as we know them today weren’t invented in Asia. Fortune cookies originated in San Francisco in the 1890s.
And despite their association with Chinese restaurants, fortune cookies were created by a Japanese immigrant. The Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park sought a fun treat to provide visitors, so they asked the landscape architect, Makoto Hagiwara, for a suggestion. He worked with a local San Francisco bakery, Benkyodo, to develop the modern day fortune cookie.
3. World War II changed the course of fortune cookies forever
Hagiwara’s fortune cookies and tea garden were beloved until World War II erupted. With Executive Order 9066, 120,000 Japanese-Americans, including Hagiwara, were incarcerated and interned in camps.
The Golden Gate Park authorities hired Chinese immigrants to run the Japanese Tea Garden and produce fortune cookies. It did not take long for the fortune cookie to make its way into Chinese restaurants across the US.
4. Fortune cookies were handmade until 1964
Fortune cookies were originally made by baking circular dollops of batter on a cookie tin for 10 minutes, and then folding in the paper fortunes before the cookie cooled.
It’s a laborious and fast-paced process; check out this video on how to do it.
That all changed in 1964 with the invention of the first automated fortune cookie machine. Over the decades, new innovations in fortune cookie machines have resulted in the ability to produce up to 8,000 cookies in an hour. In 2008, it was estimated that 3 billion fortune cookies are consumed worldwide.
5. Zilch for nutrition
You probably weren’t expecting much, but there isn’t any nutritional value in fortune cookies. Each fortune cookie recipe differs, but in general, a cookie has 20–30 calories, 5–7 grams of total carbohydrates and 3 grams of sugar.
Hopefully you will receive the majority of benefit from the fortunes themselves. Speaking of which . . .
6. The most prolific fortune writer quit in 2017
After 30 years on the job, Donald Lau retired from dispensing sage advice and Powerball numbers. The reason? You guessed it: writer’s block.
Now you know: fortune cookies are not a beacon of traditional Chinese culture authenticity. But, that’s where we come in. Below are three Sidewalks that will open your eyes to the wonders of a Chinatown near you.

San Francisco
Sidewalk: Opium, Hidden Temples, Dragons & Fortune Cookies
Why? Discover the main highlights of Chinatown and the treasures found in colorful alleys, hidden stairwells and secret temple balconies. You’ll also stop for snacks and dim sum, and even visit the iconic Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory. After all, (7/20) is National Fortune Cookie Day!

Los Angeles
Sidewalk: The Foodie Walk of Chinatown LA
Why? Stroll through Chinatown on a 5-stop exploration of the best eats of the neighborhood. Discover the tastiest dim sum treats, egg custard tarts, tea and more.

New York City
Sidewalk: Steamed Dumplings, Gang Wars & the Pursuit of the American Dream
Why? Chinatown is practically its own city within Manhattan. Discover the best of the hidden alleys, delicious food, exotic markets, cultural shops and sometimes-violent history that has shaped this ever-changing neighborhood.
What’s That? is a series that celebrates experiencing the different and familiar, whether it is an object, food, custom, artistic style or type of architecture. In each edition, we introduce an item and explain how to appreciate it and why it’s important. Why? Because, being cultured is cool. Ideas or requests? Let us know on our Facebook Page or in the comments section below.
Originally published at www.sidewalk.guide.

