Although often served in and associated with Chinese restaurants (mainly in the US), the modern fortune cookie is actually similar to a cookie that’s been made in Japan for several centuries. The Japanese cookie (called tsujiura senbei) is larger, with a darker colour dough and is flavoured with sesame and miso; the fortune is visible as the paper wedged into the bend of the cookie.
What is known about the Americanised fortune cookie is that they’ve been found in both Japanese and Chinese restaurants for over 100 years. There is a debate, however, in regards to who claims to be their inventor, which has lead to numerous court cases.
They were originally handmade until a fortune cookie machine was invented in Oakland, California by Shuck Yee. Billions of fortune cookies are now manufactured yearly.
Some cookies include a fortune with a set of “lucky numbers” which have actually lead to people winning the lottery; however, due to the fortunes containing the same numbers, the people had to share jackpot.
With your own fortune cookie tattoo, you can write whatever fortune you like, a reference to a film or television show, or even some silly phrase. You could have a broken cookie to expose the fortune, or have it hanging out like in the tattoos below.
What fortune do you hope to come true?
Traditional fortune cookie tattoo by @co_nate_84
Traditional fortune cookie tattoo by @batsforbrains
Traditional fortune cookie tattoo by @corijamestattoo
Traditional fortune cookie tattoo by @vikingashley