The history the fortune cookie 🥠

The fortune cookie, that crispy messenger of cryptic wisdom, boasts a surprisingly murky past. Forget ancient China! It most likely originated with Japanese immigrants who arrived in the US in the late 1800s. These resourceful folks brought over treats like sesame-flavored "fortune crackers", a delightful fusion of Japanese flavors and a familiar fortune-telling tradition.

Meanwhile, on the West Coast, another contender for the fortune cookie crown emerged. David Jung, a Chinese immigrant running the Hong Kong Noodle Company in Los Angeles, claimed to have invented the cookie in 1918. Legend has it he wanted to offer a sweet treat and a morale boost to unemployed men struggling during tough times. San Francisco's Japanese Tea Garden also throws its hat in the ring, with some believing they served similar cookies as early as 1908.

So, how did these delicious prophecies end up synonymous with Chinese food? World War II likely played a role. By then, both Japanese and Chinese restaurants offered fortune cookies, and with rising anti-Japanese sentiment, the Chinese association stuck. Today, the fortune cookie is a beloved part of the American dining experience, a sugary envoy from a past shrouded in delicious mystery.