Are fortune cookies an authentic Chinese tradition?

Fortune cookies are a popular treat that are often served in Chinese restaurants in the United States and other countries. However, the question of whether they are an authentic Chinese tradition is a bit more complicated.

Many people assume that fortune cookies originated in China, but in fact they were invented in California in the early 1900s. There are a few different stories about how fortune cookies came to be, but most involve Japanese or Chinese immigrants who were making and selling various types of cookies in the United States.

One popular theory is that fortune cookies were based on a Japanese cookie called tsujiura senbei, which was a crispy, folded cookie with a fortune inside. According to this theory, Japanese immigrants in California started making and selling their own version of the cookie, which eventually evolved into the fortune cookie we know today.

Another theory is that Chinese immigrants in California invented the fortune cookie as a way to appeal to American customers. By adding a fun and mysterious element to their cookies, they hoped to make them more popular and profitable.

Regardless of their origins, fortune cookies are now a beloved part of many Chinese restaurants and are often associated with Chinese culture. Some people in China even enjoy eating fortune cookies as a novelty item, although they are not a traditional Chinese food.

In conclusion, while fortune cookies are not an authentic Chinese tradition, they are a unique and fun part of Chinese-American culture that has become popular around the world.