In Chinese restaurants from America to Brazil, Britain, Australia, and much of the western world in between, there’s one thing we’ve all come to expect at the end of our meals. Aside from heartburn and maybe an upset tummy, we expect a tray full of fortune cookies to be delivered with the check. You know, those crisp, folded cookies with a paper slip inside telling you your lucky lotto numbers and the importance of friendship in your life. But did you realize that you’ll never encounter these kinds of cookies at restaurants within China itself? Investigations show that Chinese fortune cookies have absolutely nothing to do with China! The truth, it would seem, lies a little bit further east.
Fortune cookies might be one of the least coveted but highly adored desserts found in the Western world. You could be stuffed to the brim with chow mein and let still throw a hissy fit if jilted out of a cookie. Many people don’t even eat the crunchy shell; they only want to read their fortunes. The fortune cookie has become more of a fortune dispenser than an actual treat.
But here’s the really strange thing: People associate fortune cookies with Chinese food, when in reality, they originated in Japan!
▼ Here’s a traditional Japanese fortune cookie (left) alongside its mass-produced counterpart.
A few years back, an article appeared in the New York Times explaining exactly how the fortune cookie was brought over to America and introduced in Japanese bakeries. Their production shifted into Chinese hands sometime around World War II, possibly as a result of many Japanese-Americans being forced into internment camps and thus closing up shop. From there, the cookie and its popularity quickly spread across the country, the continent, and many corners of the world. Ironically, however, the dessert never made it back into China, the country with which fortune cookies are most associated.
Of course, even within Japan these cookies are not common fare. Rather, they are a local specialty, found predominately in the area around Kyoto, a region known for its many temples and shrines. If you’re visiting the area, be on the lookout for some traditional, fortune-filled pastries! Be careful, though, because in Japan not all fortune slips are good. If you find yourself with a bad fortune, we suggest you follow the local customs and tie it to a pine tree to keep the bad luck from attaching itself to you.
Source: Entabe (Japanese)
Starbucks Japan releases yet another drool-worthy Frappuccino flavor for summer
600-yen Chinese buffet opens in Tokyo, Americans rejoice
Liven up your next party with cookies in the shape of giant sunflower seeds
Hungry for art? Japanese cookie artist uses icing to make unbelievable edible masterpieces【Pics】
The secret of Starbucks Japan’s Chocolate Chunk Cookie: It’s not made by Starbucks!
We buy Amazon Japan’s lowest-rated perpetual motion machine
Japan ends travel ban on individual tourists, waives visa requirements for certain countries
Lawson’s ‘TanChiki’ – We try Japan’s new health-conscious convenience store fried chicken
Tokyo’s miracle makeover hairstylist is back with customer who came from eight hours away【Video】
Tokyo Game Show 2022: Hands-on with Resident Evil Village VR and the new Final Fantasy
Hello Kitty goes back to the ‘90s for Sanrio’s kogyaru schoolgirl collection【Photos】
Our team turns into old men on Respect for the Elderly Day with the magic of A.I. photo editing
Japan’s population of people over 100 surpasses 90,000 for first time
We test out the “chairless magic chair” that allows you to sit whenever, wherever you want
Turning a crazy cheap country Japanese house into a home — Step 5: Making money【SoraHouse】
Ghibli Park unveils first official photos: Explore worlds of Totoro, Laputa, and Spirited Away
Japanese public broadcaster issues apology for calling a train a “train”
Japan’s Got Talent is coming to screens in 2023 with legendary Japanese comedian as judge
New Studio Ghibli die-cast anime car line brings Catbus, Spirited Away Sea Railway to your home
Japanese fish that beat Pokémon video game passes away
The hidden meaning of the U.S. Air Force’s “shake and fries” patch in Japan
Japanese manga hotel rooms strictly prohibit reality, want guests to drown in works all night
One Piece’s Luffy spent years of manga’s publication without saying a word to one of his nakama
Japan removes tour guide requirement for foreign tourists
Japanese vending machine is the first of its kind, operated by a local business
Nike releases izakaya sneakers in Japan【Photos】
Japanese government wants to encourage wealthy foreigners to travel deeper into Japan, NHK says
We try Amazon Japan’s lowest rated portable washing machine
Mandarin orange peels aren’t trash, they’re treasure! Three chimpi tips to reuse your mikan skins
Move over grilled cheese — we’ve discovered the tastiest toasted sandwich yet【Recipe】
One Punch Man manga artist’s amazing “practice” drawing is so good we think he might not be human
Sony’s wearable air conditioners selling like cold cakes in heat-stricken Japan
How to use the new floating hologram registers at 7-Eleven
Liev Schreiber’s son deemed “too beautiful” in Japan
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Japanese woman finds better way to make potato salad, we may not be able to go back to old style
Bandai releases a retro item with zodiac signs in gachapon capsule toy form…but what is it?
In the search for the perfect crunchy cream puff, we try Beard Papa’s new cookie-topped choux
Bacon-fried Oreos make a greasily delicious appearance in Japanese kitchens
Artist carves cute Studio Ghibli characters into Oreo cookie filling 【Video】
Ramen cookies? Video shows all you need to know to make these awesome desserts 【Video】
Mouth-watering cheesecake Oreos about to hit stores in Japan
With new Country Ma’am cookie-scented lip cream, you can enjoy the delectable cookies all day long
Melon bread…with meat? A crazy new twist on one of Japan’s favorite baked goods【Taste test】
Yoku Moku’s Cigare cookies to become available in new matcha flavor!
Celebrate the incoming Attack on Titan movie with a suitably colossal Oreo cookie 【Recipe】
Starbucks Korea’s Year of the Dog puppy cupcakes look adorable, get stabbed in the face【Videos】
Taste-testing every single sakura sweet and cherry blossom drink we could find at Mujirushi
Are the new sold-out official Pokémon cookie kits worth the hype?
The treat you’ve been waiting for: watermelon chocolate chip cookies!!
Japanese internet browser cookies are higher quality than some of the browsers themselves 【Pics】
Japanese mother makes cookies that look like tiny meals
Leave a Reply