Cracking into a delicious fortune cookie is a sweet ending after eating Chinese food. This treat is a staple in Chinese restaurants across the U.S. However, the cookie is consumed without much thought to its history. While each one contains a different fortune, there are several facts about the cookie that you may not know. 

Did You Know These Fortune Cookie Facts?

1. Their Creator Remains a Mystery

Despite providing insightful fortunes, the origins of the cookie remain a mystery. Over the years, many different people have claimed to be the inventor of the popular Chinese restaurant treat, but its invention has never been traced back to a single person or eatery.

2. They May Have Derived in Japan

Fortune cookies are associated with Chinese restaurants, but the treats might have been created in a different country. There is evidence of Japanese fortune cookies dating back as early as 1878. The recipe of these treats is different than their Chinese counterparts, but the concept—complete with slips of paper containing fortunes or bits of wisdom—is the same.

3. There Are Thousands of Fortunes

Wonton Food, located in Brooklyn, NY, is the world’s largest manufacturer of fortune cookies. Thanks to the company, you might not ever get the same fortune twice, no matter how many times you eat at your favorite Chinese restaurant. The manufacturer has a database of around 15,000 different messages for the tiny paper slips that are inserted into the cookie. As a fun bit of contrast, a bakery in Japan has used the same 23 messages in its fortune cookies for decades.

4. Fortune Cookies Have Helped People Win Fortunes

Choosing lottery numbers is usually random. In 2005, however, 110 people across 29 different states won second-place prizes—between $100,000 and $500,000—on the same day. Their secret? They all chose their lottery numbers based on the figures included in a fortune cookie.

If you’re craving authentic Chinese cuisine—or a bit of wisdom from a delicious cookie—Hong Wah Chinese Restaurant in Penfield, NY, is the destination you’ve been searching for. With a full menu of traditional favorites such as chicken and broccoli to more adventurous selections such as spicy prawns, you’re sure to find a dish that caters to your particular palate. And with the option for take-out, you can enjoy the scrumptious meal on the go. Visit the website for a full look at the menu or call (585) 385-2808 to place an order.